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Joint Standing Committee on Treaties
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Chapter 6 Three Minor Treaty Actions
Introduction
6.1
Minor treaty actions are generally technical amendments to existing
treaties which do not impact significantly on the national interest.
6.2
Minor treaty actions are presented to the Joint Standing Committee on
Treaties with a one-page explanatory statement and are listed on the
Committee’s website. The Committee has the discretion to formally inquire into
these treaty actions or indicate its acceptance of them without a formal
inquiry and report.
Minor treaty actions
6.3
There are three minor treaty actions reviewed in this chapter. The
Committee determined not to hold a formal inquiry into these treaty actions and
agreed that binding treaty action may be taken for all three.
Amendments to the Schedule of the International Convention on the
Regulation of Whaling.
6.4
The proposed minor treaty action extends the operation of the zero catch
limit on commercial whaling established under the Schedule to the
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling for another year.
It also extends Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling quotas allocated to aboriginal
communities in the Russian Federation, the United States of America (USA) and
St. Vincent and the Grenadines under the Schedule for a further six
year-period (until 2018).
6.5
Australia does not propose to lodge an objection to these amendments and
no active binding treaty action is required to be taken by Australia. The
amendments will not alter Australia’s obligations under the Convention and in
fact extend the life of the moratorium, which Australia strongly supports.
MARPOL Resolution MEPC.216(63): Regional arrangements for port
reception facilities under MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV and V
6.6
The treaty matter proposed will amend international regulations for the
prevention of pollution from ships (MARPOL Annex I, II, IV and V) relating to
the provision of reception facilities for waste generated on board ships.
6.7
These Annexes place obligations on port States to provide adequate
reception facilities in all ports and terminals for waste generated on board
ships. The obligation to provide adequate reception facilities has been
recognised by the International Maritime Organization as a barrier to some
States’ ratification of MARPOL, particularly small island developing states.
6.8
In March 2010, the MEPC considered a proposal to allow small island
developing states to meet their obligations to provide waste reception
facilities through regional arrangements, by entering into a Regional Reception
Facilities Plan (RRFP). MEPC adopted the amendments in March 2012. The
amendments to the Annexes will not impose any new obligations on Australia or
require it to enter into a RRFP.
6.9
It is recommended that Australia support the amendments to assist our
neighbours, many of which are small island developing states. It is expected
that the amendments will assist these states in compliance with waste reception
facilities provisions contained in MARPOL.
MARPOL Resolution MEPC.217(63): Regional arrangements for port
reception facilities under MARPOL Annex VI and Certification of marine diesel
engines fitted with Selective Catalytic Reduction systems under the NOx
Technical Code 2008
6.10
The treaty matter proposed will amend international regulations for the
prevention of air pollution from ships (MARPOL Annex VI relating to the
provision of reception facilities for waste generated on board ships and the
NOx Technical Code 2008 relating to certification of marine diesel engines
fitted with Selective Catalytic Reduction systems).
6.11
The “NOx Technical Code 2008” (NTC) is the Technical Code
on Control of Emission of Nitrogen Oxides from Marine Diesel Engines,
adopted by the International Maritime Organization in 2008.
6.12
The amendments will result in a procedure for certain engines where
their size, construction and delivery schedule precludes test-bed testing,
whereby such engines may instead be subject to an onboard test.
6.13
The amendments to the NTC would not impose any additional costs on
Australian shipping. This is because the amendments provide for alternate test
methods for NOx emissions from ship engines but do not alter the standards that
ships are required to meet for certification.
6.14
It is recommended that Australia support the amendments to assist our
neighbours, many of which are small island developing states. It is expected
that the amendments will assist these states in compliance with NTC provisions
contained in MARPOL.
Kelvin Thomson MP
Chair
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