Joint Standing Committee on Treaties
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
| Chair |
Mr W L Taylor MP (LP, QLD) |
| Deputy Chair |
Mr R B McClelland MP (ALP, NSW) |
| Members |
Senator E Abetz (LP, TAS) |
|
Senator V W Bourne (DEM, NSW) |
|
Senator B Cooney (ALP, VIC) [1] |
|
Senator S M Murphy (ALP, TAS) [2] |
|
Senator C M Ellison (LP, WA) |
|
Senator B J Neal (ALP, NSW) |
|
Senator W G O'Chee (NP, QLD) |
|
Hon D G H Adams MP (ALP, TAS) |
|
Mr K J Bartlett MP (LP, NSW) |
|
Mr L D T Ferguson MP (ALP, NSW) |
|
Mr G D Hardgrave MP (LP, QLD) |
|
Mr A C Smith MP (LP, QLD) |
|
Mr W E Truss MP (NP, QLD) |
|
Mr C W Tuckey MP (LP, WA) |
- Committee Secretary
- Mr Peter Stephens
- Inquiry Secretary
- Mr Patrick Regan
- Executive Assistants
- Ms Sophia Konti
-
- Ms Jodie Williams (from 28 January 1997)
Footnotes
[1] Replaced Senator K Carr (ALP, VIC) from
4 December 1996.
[2] Replaced Senator K Denman (ALP, TAS)
from 12 December 1996.
EXTRACT FROM RESOLUTION OF APPOINTMENT
The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties was formed in the 38th Parliament
on 30 May 1996. The Committee's Resolution of Appointment allows it
to inquire into and report upon:
| (a) |
matters arising from treaties and related National Interest
Analyses and proposed treaty actions presented or deemed to be
presented to the Parliament; |
| (b) |
any question relating to a treaty or other international instrument,
whether or not negotiated to completion, referred to the committee
by:
(i) either House of the Parliament, or
|
| (c) |
such other matters as may be referred to the committee by the
Minister for Foreign Affairs and on such conditions as the Minister
may prescribe. |
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Australian Government take every opportunity during periodic
reviews to ensure that the weaknesses in Protocol IV are corrected,
with a view to ensuring it becomes more effective in preventing the
use of blinding laser weapons (Paragraph 2.36).
The Australian Government take advantage of every opportunity,
especially in the South East Asian and Pacific regions, to encourage
other nations to sign the Inhumane Weapons Convention and all of its
Protocols (Paragraph 3.130).
Australia destroy its stockpile of anti-personnel landmines, except
for a small number to be retained for training purposes to ensure
that the Australian Defence Force retains its skills, and
Australia prepare for consideration at the December 1997 meeting
in Canada a proposal for the creation of an agreed international timetable
for the destruction of anti-personnel landmines of all nations (Paragraph
3.137).
The Department of Defence assume full responsibility for humanitarian
mine clearing operations in countries which need assistance and, in
order to increase its humanitarian expertise and to instil and retain
mine clearing knowledge and skills within the Australian Defence Force,
ensure appropriate countries are aware of Australia's continuing interest
in this work (Paragraph 3.140).
The Department of Defence examine ways by which it can encourage
researchers into and designers of de-mining technology, with a view
to assisting financially in the development of safer, faster and more
efficient ways of reducing the number of anti-personnel landmines
throughout the world (Paragraph 3.142).
The Australian Government continues its international efforts
to achieve a total global ban on anti-personnel landmines as soon
as practicable (Paragraph 3.144).