Purpose of the report

This report contains advice to Parliament on the review by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties of twelve treaty actions tabled in Parliament on 4 June 2008¹, 17 June 2008², 25 June 2008³ and 26 August 2008⁴. These treaty actions are:

• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Australia-Chile Free Trade Agreement
• Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United Arab Emirates Concerning Defence Cooperation
• Amendment, adopted 1 October 2007, to Annex 1 of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) International Convention Against Doping in Sport of 19 October 2005
• Headquarters Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Secretariat to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women
• Agreement between Australia and the European Union on the Processing and Transfer of European Union-Sourced Passenger Name Record (PNR) Data by Air Carriers to the Australian Customs Service
• Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the French Republic Regarding Defence Cooperation and Status of Forces
• Agreement between the Government of Australia and the European Community on Certain Aspects of Air Services
• Amendment to the Agreement on Social Security between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Chile
• Amendment, Adopted at Rome on 28 March 2008, to the Agreement for the Establishment of the International Development Law Organization of 5 February 1988, as Amended on 30 June 2002 and 30 November 2002
• Amendment to Annex 4.1 (Rules of Origin) of the Australia-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) of 5 July 2004

Copies of each treaty action and NIA 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:

Conduct of the Committee’s review

The reviews contained in this report were advertised in the national press and on the Committee’s website.⁵ Invitations to lodge submissions were also sent to all State Premiers, Chief Ministers, Presiding Members of Parliament and to individuals who have expressed an interest in being kept informed of proposed treaty actions. Submissions received and their authors are listed at Appendix A.

The Committee also received evidence at public hearings on 16 June 2008, 28 July 2008, 29 July 2008, 25 August 2008, 15 September 2008 and 22 September 2008 in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. A list of witnesses who appeared before the public hearing is at Appendix B. Transcripts of evidence from public hearings may be obtained from the Committee Secretariat or accessed through the Committee’s website at:
4 June 2008
www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/4june2008/hearings.htm

17 June 2008
www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/17june2008/hearings.htm

25 June 2008
www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/25june2008/hearings.htm

26 August 2008
www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/26august2008/hearings.htm

Australia, House of Representatives 2008, Votes and Proceedings, No. 28, p. 389, Australia, Senate 2008, Journal, No. 15, pp. 487-488. Back