House of Representatives Committees

RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF BLINDING LASER WEAPONS AND LANDMINES
5th Report CONTENTS

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Chair	Mr W L Taylor MP (LP, QLD)
Deputy Chair	Mr R B McClelland MP (ALP, NSW)
Members	Senator E Abetz (LP, TAS)
	Senator V W Bourne (DEM, NSW)
	Senator B Cooney (ALP, VIC) [1]
	Senator S M Murphy (ALP, TAS) [2]
	Senator C M Ellison (LP, WA)
	Senator B J Neal (ALP, NSW)
	Senator W G O'Chee (NP, QLD)
	Hon D G H Adams MP (ALP, TAS)
	Mr K J Bartlett MP (LP, NSW)
	Mr L D T Ferguson MP (ALP, NSW)
	Mr G D Hardgrave MP (LP, QLD)
	Mr A C Smith MP (LP, QLD)
	Mr W E Truss MP (NP, QLD)
	Mr C W Tuckey MP (LP, WA)

Committee Secretary: Mr Peter Stephens
Inquiry Secretary: Mr Patrick Regan
Executive Assistants: Ms Sophia Konti
: Ms Jodie Williams (from 28 January 1997)

Footnotes

[1] Replaced Senator K Carr (ALP, VIC) from 4 December 1996.

[2] Replaced Senator K Denman (ALP, TAS) from 12 December 1996.

EXTRACT FROM RESOLUTION OF APPOINTMENT

The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties was formed in the 38th Parliament on 30 May 1996. The Committee's Resolution of Appointment allows it to inquire into and report upon:

(a)

matters arising from treaties and related National Interest Analyses and proposed treaty actions presented or deemed to be presented to the Parliament;

(b)

any question relating to a treaty or other international instrument, whether or not negotiated to completion, referred to the committee by:

(i) either House of the Parliament, or

(ii) a Minister; and

(c)

such other matters as may be referred to the committee by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and on such conditions as the Minister may prescribe.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Australian Government take every opportunity during periodic reviews to ensure that the weaknesses in Protocol IV are corrected, with a view to ensuring it becomes more effective in preventing the use of blinding laser weapons (Paragraph 2.36).

The Australian Government take advantage of every opportunity, especially in the South East Asian and Pacific regions, to encourage other nations to sign the Inhumane Weapons Convention and all of its Protocols (Paragraph 3.130).

Australia destroy its stockpile of anti-personnel landmines, except for a small number to be retained for training purposes to ensure that the Australian Defence Force retains its skills, and

Australia prepare for consideration at the December 1997 meeting in Canada a proposal for the creation of an agreed international timetable for the destruction of anti-personnel landmines of all nations (Paragraph 3.137).

The Department of Defence assume full responsibility for humanitarian mine clearing operations in countries which need assistance and, in order to increase its humanitarian expertise and to instil and retain mine clearing knowledge and skills within the Australian Defence Force, ensure appropriate countries are aware of Australia's continuing interest in this work (Paragraph 3.140).

The Department of Defence examine ways by which it can encourage researchers into and designers of de-mining technology, with a view to assisting financially in the development of safer, faster and more efficient ways of reducing the number of anti-personnel landmines throughout the world (Paragraph 3.142).

The Australian Government continues its international efforts to achieve a total global ban on anti-personnel landmines as soon as practicable (Paragraph 3.144).