House of Representatives Committees


| Joint Standing Committee on Treaties

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Preliminary Page

Membership of the Committee

Chair

Mr Kelvin Thomson MP

 

Deputy Chair

Senator Julian McGauran

 

Members

Mr Jamie Briggs MP

Senator Simon Birmingham

 

Mr John Forrest MP

Senator Michaelia Cash

 

Ms Jill Hall MP

Senator Don Farrell

 

Hon John Murphy MP

Senator Scott Ludlam

 

Ms Belinda Neal MP

Senator Louise Pratt

 

Ms Melissa Parke MP

Senator Dana Wortley

 

Mr Luke Simpkins MP

 

 

Ms Maria Vamvakinou MP

 

 

Committee Secretariat

 

Secretary

Jerome Brown

Inquiry Secretary

Kevin Bodel

Research Officer

Narelle McGlusky

Administrative Officers

Heidi Luschtinetz

 

Dorota Cooley

 

Resolution of Appointment

 

The Resolution of Appointment of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties allows it to inquire into and report on:

a)                  matters arising from treaties and related National Interest Analyses and proposed treaty actions and related Explanatory Statements 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

(ii)              a Minister; and

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.

 

List of abbreviations

 

ADF

Australian Defence Force

ATO

Australian Taxation Office

AUSTRAC

Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre

EOI

Exchange of Information

IMF

International Monetary Fund

JSCOT

Joint Standing Committee on Treaties

NIA

National Interest Analysis

OECD

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

TIEA

Tax Information Exchange Agreement

TRA

Taxing Rights Agreement

 

List of recommendations

2     Taxation Agreement with New Zealand

Recommendation 1

The Committee supports the Convention between Australia and New Zealand for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and Fringe Benefits and the prevention of Fiscal Evasion and recommends that binding treaty action be taken.

3     Taxation Agreements with Jersey

Recommendation 2

The Committee supports the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Jersey for the Exchange of Information with Respect to Taxes and recommends that binding treaty action be taken.

Recommendation 3

The Committee supports the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Jersey for the Allocation of Taxing Rights with Respect to Certain Income of Individuals and to Establish a Mutual Agreement Procedure in Respect of Transfer Pricing Adjustments and recommends that binding treaty action be taken.

4     Taxation Agreement with Belgium

Recommendation 4

The Committee supports the Second Protocol amending the Agreement between the Kingdom of Belgium and Australia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and recommends that binding treaty action be taken.

5     Three treaties for the reform of the IMF and the World Bank

Recommendation 5

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government use the good will it has gained by agreeing to the IMF Voice and Participation Amendment prior to the G20 meeting to progress improvements in the balance of voting power and the confidence and legitimacy of the IMF’s decision making process.

Recommendation 6

The Committee recommends that, consistent with the IMF’s goals of international economic stability and fostering growth and economic development,  the Australian Government advocate that the IMF not invest in:

  • high risk investments;

  • the manufacture of arms or military equipment; and

  • environmentally damaging industries.

    Recommendation 7

    The Committee recommends that the Australian Government support the proposal of the Development Committee of the World Bank to increase the quota of votes allocated to developing countries to at least 47 per cent.

    6     Amended Chapeau Defence Agreement

    Recommendation 8

    The Committee recommends that the Australian Government explore mechanisms to ensure that Australian personnel convicted of crimes for which the penalty is death while serving in the United States are not subject to the death penalty.

    Recommendation 9

    The Committee supports the Agreement to amend the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America concerning Certain Mutual Defense Commitments and recommends that binding treaty action be taken.

    7     Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Singapore Concerning the Use of Shoalwater Bay Training Area and the Use of Associated Facilities in Australia

    Recommendation 10

    The Committee supports the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Singapore concerning the use of Shoalwater Bay Training Area and the use of associated facilities in Australia and recommends that binding treaty action be taken.

     

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