This Report contains the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties review of the following treaty actions:
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Singapore concerning the Republic of Singapore Air Force Flying Training Institute Detachment at Royal Australian Air Force Base Pearce (Singapore, 21 August 2017)
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Solomon Islands Concerning the Basis for Deployment of Police, Armed Forces and Other Personnel to Solomon Islands (Canberra, 14 August 2017); and
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America for Space Vehicle Tracking and Communication Facilities (Washington D.C., 17 October 2017).
The Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Singapore concerning the Republic of Singapore Air Force Flying Training Institute Detachment at Royal Australian Air Force Base Pearce replaces a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Australia and Singapore. The Agreement provides a legally-binding framework to support the continuation of Singapore’s Flying Training Institute at the RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia. The MOU has been in effect since 1993 and is due to expire on 21 March 2018.
The Flying Training Institute has been a central element of Australia’s defence relationship with Singapore for almost a quarter of a century and this Agreement will allow Singapore to continue flight training at the RAAF Base Pearce into the future.
The Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Solomon Islands Concerning the Basis for Deployment of Police, Armed Forces and Other Personnel to Solomon Islands enables the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to deploy rapidly and effectively at the request of the Solomon Islands government in the event of a major security challenge or humanitarian emergency. For fourteen years from 2003, Australia led the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to assist with stabilisation and peace building after a period of ethnic and civil unrest. RAMSI concluded on 30 June 2017.
While RAMSI was successful, the Solomon Islands still faces many development challenges, and this Agreement will allow Australia to provide ongoing support, helping to build long-term stability and enduring growth.
The Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America for Space Vehicle Tracking and Communication Facilities consolidates an arrangement that has existed between Australia and the United States of America since 1960. Australia provides vital support for America’s space program through a number of facilities including the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) at Tidbinbilla. The Agreement will permit the ongoing collaboration between the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to continue for another 25 years.
The Committee supports these treaties and recommends that binding treaty action be taken for all three agreements.
The Report also contains the Committee’s review of the following four minor treaty actions:
Amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended Resolution MSC.404(96);
Amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended Resolution MSC.409(97);
Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978 as amended Resolution MSC.416(97);
Amendments to Part A of the Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code Resolution MSC.417(97); and
Amendments to Annex I of the International Convention Against Doping in Sports.