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 28 March¹ and 10 May 2006.² These treaty actions are:

28 March 2006³

• Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia for Cooperation in Scientific Research and Technological Development

10 May 2006

• Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Namibia and the Governments of Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning the Treatment of War Graves of members of the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth in the Territory of the Republic of Namibia
• Agreement on Social Security between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway
• Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America on Cooperation in Science and Technology for Homeland/Domestic Security Matters
• The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance Statutes (as amended at the Extraordinary Council meeting of International IDEA on 24 January 2006 )
• Amendments to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Constitution, done at Geneva on 24 November 1998

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/28march2006/tor.htm

www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/10may2006/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 public hearings held on 8 May, 19 and 20 June 2006. A list of witnesses who appeared before the Committee at public hearings is at Appendix B. A transcript of evidence from the public hearings may be obtained from the Committee Secretariat or accessed through the Committee’s website at:

www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/28march2006/hearings.htm

www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/10may2006/hearings.htm

Australia, House of Representatives 2004-05-06, Votes and Proceedings, No. 95, p. 1080; Senate 2004-06, Journal, No. 81, p. 2139. Back