Purpose of the report

This report contains advice to Parliament on the review by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties of nine treaty actions tabled in Parliament on 27 March and 9 May 2007. These treaty actions are:

• Agreement concerning the Establishing of Global Technical Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be Fitted and/or be Used on Wheeled Vehicles (Geneva, 25 June 1998)

• Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of South Africa (Canberra, 18 October 2006)
• Instrument amending the Constitution of the International Telecommunication Union (Geneva, 1992) as amended by the Plenipotentiary Conference (Kyoto, 1994), by the Plenipotentiary Conference (Minneapolis, 1998) and by the Plenipotentiary Conference (Marrakesh, 2002) and Instrument amending the Convention of the International Telecommunication Union (Geneva, 1992) as amended by the Plenipotentiary Conference (Kyoto, 1994), by the Plenipotentiary Conference (Minneapolis, 1998) and by the Plenipotentiary Conference (Marrakesh, 2002) (Antalya, 24 November 2006)
• Protocol additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem (Protocol III) Geneva, 8 December 2005
• Agreement between Australia and the Federal Republic of Germany on Social Security to govern persons temporarily employed in the territory of the other State ("Supplementary Agreement"), Concluding Protocol and Implementation Arrangement (Berlin, 9 February 2007)
• Agreement on Social Security between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Korea (Canberra, 6 December 2006)
• Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Singapore to amend Annex 2C and Annex 2D of the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) to ensure compliance with changes to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS2007)
• Protocol Amending the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) (Geneva, 6 December 2005)
• Framework Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on Cooperation in Military Fields (Canberra, 13 June 2006)

Briefing documents

The advice in this Report refers to the National Interest Analysis (NIA) prepared for the proposed treaty actions. This document is prepared by the Government agency (or agencies) responsible for the administration of Australia’s responsibilities under each treaty. Copies of the NIA may be obtained from the Committee Secretariat or accessed through the Committee’s website at:

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:

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 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 held on 18 and 22 June 2007 in Canberra. A list of witnesses who appeared before the Committee at the public hearings 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:

Australia, House of Representatives 2004-05-06-07, Votes and Proceedings, No. 166, p. 1854; Australia, Senate 2004-07, Journal, No. 143, p. 3752. Back