1.1
This report contains the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties’ review of the following treaty actions:
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) General Capital Increase and Selective Capital Increase (Washington DC, 1 October 2018);
International Finance Corporation (IFC) General Capital Increase (Washington DC, 16 April 2020);
Amendments to Appendices I and II to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Gandhinagar, 17–22 February 2020); and
Exchange of letters terminating the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia concerning the Promotion and Protection of Investments (Jakarta, 6 February 2020).
1.2
The Committee’s resolution of appointment empowers it to inquire into any treaty to which Australia has become a signatory, on the treaty being tabled in the Parliament.
1.3
The treaties, and matters arising from them, are evaluated to ensure that ratification is in the national interest, and that unintended or negative effects on Australia will not arise.
1.4
Prior to tabling, major treaty actions are subject to a National Interest Analysis (NIA), prepared by Government. This document considers arguments for and against the treaty, outlines the treaty obligations and any regulatory or financial implications, and reports the results of consultations undertaken with State and Territory Governments, Federal, State and Territory agencies, and with industry or non-government organisations.
1.5
An Analysis of Regulatory Impact on Australia (ARIA) may accompany the NIA. The ARIA provides an account of the regulatory impact of the treaty action where adoption of the treaty will involve a change in the regulatory environment for Australian business.
1.6
The Committee takes account of these documents in its examination of the treaty text, in addition to other evidence taken during the inquiry program.
1.7
None of the treaty actions examined in this report required an ARIA.
1.8
Copies of the treaties considered in this report and the associated documentation may be accessed through the Committee’s website at:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Treaties/CapitalIncreaseWBGIBRD;
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Treaties/CapitalIncreaseWBGIFC;
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Treaties/AmendmentsCMS;
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Treaties/TerminationIPPAIndonesia.
1.9
This report also contains the Committee’s reviews on six minor treaty actions:
Agreement between the Government of Australia, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Thailand, the United States of America, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, pursuant to Article XIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, on the establishment of country-specific quotas in the Republic of Korea’s World Trade Organization Tariff-Rate quota for Rice;
2019 Amendments to Annexes II, VIII and IX of the Basel Convention on the Control of the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal;
2019 Amendments to Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade;
2019 Amendments to Annex I of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation International Convention against Doping in Sport;
Changes to Schedule 1 of the Annex on Chemicals to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction; and
Amendment of 2018 to the Code of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.
Conduct of the Committee’s review
1.10
The treaty actions reviewed in this report were advertised on the Committee website from the date of referral. Submissions for the treaty actions were requested by 5 June 2020. Three submissions were received for the inquiry into the termination of the IPPA with Indonesia, two for the inquiry into the Convention on migratory species, and one submission for each of the remaining two inquiries.
1.11
The Committee held a public hearing into the two World Bank Group treaty actions via teleconference on 22 May 2020. A public hearing into the other two treaty actions was held via teleconference on 15 June 2020. The transcripts of evidence from the public hearings may be obtained from the Committee Secretariat or accessed through the Committee’s website as listed above.
1.12
A list of submissions received for the inquiries is at Appendix A. A list of witnesses who appeared at the public hearings is at Appendix B.