Purpose of the report

This report contains advice to Parliament on the review by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties of six treaty actions tabled in Parliament on 20 June¹ and 8 August 2006.² These treaty actions are:

20 June 2006

• Agreement relating to Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America ( Canberra , 28 February 2006 )
• Amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material ( Vienna on 8 July 2005 )

8 August 2006³

• Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Japan to replace the Delineated and Recorded Japanese Nuclear Fuel Cycle Program
• Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Singapore to Amend Annex 2C and Annex 2D of the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) to ensure compliance with changes to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System to come into effect on 1 January 2007
• Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America to Amend Annex 4-A and Annex 5-A of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) to ensure compliance with changes to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System to come into effect on 1 January 2007
• The International Health Regulations (2005) ( Geneva , 23 May 2005 )

Briefing documents

The advice in this Report refers to the National Interest Analyses (NIAs) prepared for the proposed treaty actions. These documents are prepared by the Government agency (or agencies) responsible for the administration of Australia’s responsibilities under each treaty. Copies of the NIAs may be obtained from the Committee Secretariat or accessed through the Committee’s website at:
www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/20june2006/tor.htm
www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/8august2006/tor.htm

Copies of treaty actions and NIAs may also be obtained from the Australian Treaties Library maintained on the internet by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Australian Treaties Library is accessible through the Committee’s website or directly at:
www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/

Conduct of the Committee’s review

The Review contained in this report was advertised in the national press and on the Committee’s website.⁴ Letters were also sent inviting comment from all State Premiers, Chief Ministers, Presiding Members of Parliament and from individuals who have expressed an interest in being kept informed of proposed treaty actions. A list of submissions and their authors is at Appendix A.

The Committee also received evidence at a public hearing held on 14 August 2006. A list of witnesses who appeared before the Committee at this public hearing is at Appendix B. A transcript of evidence from the public hearing may be obtained from the Committee Secretariat or accessed through the Committee’s website at:
www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/20june2006/hearings.htm
www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/8august2006/hearings.htm

Australia, House of Representatives 2004-05-06, Votes and Proceedings, No. 112, p. 1268; Senate 2004-06, Journal, No. 91, p. 2379. Back