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 7 and 8 February 2006.¹ These treaty actions are:

7 February 2006

• Amendments, done at Nairobi, Kenya on 25 November 2005, to Appendices I and II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, done at Bonn on 23 June 1979
• Agreement on the Promotion of Aviation Safety between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America, done at Canberra, 21 June 2005
• Implementation Procedures for Airworthiness Covering Design Approval, Production Activities, Export Airworthiness Approval, Post Design Approval Activities, and Technical Assistance between Authorities under the Agreement on the Promotion of Aviation Safety between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America, done at Canberra, 21 June 2005 (Gold Coast, 26 September 2005)

• Protocol of Amendments, adopted in Monaco on 14 April 2005 , to the Convention on the International Hydrographic Organization, done at Monaco on 3 May 1967

8 February 2006

• Protocol amending the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (Melbourne, 15 November 2005)
• Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Bermuda [as authorised by] the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the Exchange of Information with respect to Taxes (Washington, 10 November 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/february2006/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.² 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 such as these. A list of submissions and their authors is at Appendix A.

The Committee also received evidence at a public hearing held on 27 February 2006. 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/february2006/hearings.htm

The Committee’s review of the proposed treaty actions was advertised in TheAustralian on 22 February 2006 . Members of the public were advised on how to obtain relevant information and invited to submit their views to the Committee, both in the advertisement and via the Committee’s website. Back