Purpose of the report

This Report contains advice to Parliament on the review by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties of four treaty actions tabled in Parliament on 29 November 2005.¹ These treaty actions are:²

• Amendments to the Statute of the Hague Conference on Private International Law of 31 October 1951 ( The Hague , 30 June 2005 )
• Universal Postal Union : Seventh Additional Protocol to the Constitution of 10 July 1964 , as amended; Convention, and Final Protocol; General Regulations, done at Bucharest on 5 October 2004
• Annex G: Settlement of Disputes to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, done at Stockholm on 22 May 2001 ( Punta del Este , Uruguay , 6 May 2005 )
• Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments ( Canberra , 16 June 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/29november2005/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.³ Letters were also sent inviting comment from all State Premiers, Territory Chief Ministers, Presiding Members of Parliament and from individuals who have expressed an interest in being kept informed of proposed treaty actions such as these. A list of submissions and their authors is at Appendix A.

The Committee also received evidence at public hearings held on 5 December 2005. 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/29november2005/hearings.htm

The Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China concerning transfer of sentenced persons was also tabled on 29 November 2005 and reviewed in the Committee’s Report 70. Back