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JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE 
ON TREATIES

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MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN:

THE   HON ANDREW THOMSON MP

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TABLING OF   REPORT 19 - AN   OMNIBUS REVIEW OF TREATIES

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On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on 
Treaties, today I tabled in Parliament   Report 19: The Fifth Protocol to the General Agreement 
on Trade in Services and Five Treaties Tabled on 30 June 1998.

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The report considers six bilateral and multilateral treaties covering 
international investment, telecommunications, nuclear energy, extradition 
arrangements, whaling and access to medical treatment for visitors to 
Australia.

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In all cases we have concluded that it is in Australia's national 
interest that the treaties be ratified.

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The most significant of the treaties is the   Fifth Protocol to the General Agreement on Trade 
in Services.  The Protocol will help Australian companies gain 
access to new markets and invest with confidence in our region and around 
the world. While some submissions expressed concern about the potential 
impact of the treaty, the treaty will not impose any obligations on 
Australia that are inconsistent with the financial sector reforms introduced 
following the Wallis Committee of Inquiry into the Australian Financial 
System.

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Another of the treaties considered in the report is the Plutonium 
Transfer Arrangement with the European Atomic Energy Community. The 
Transfer Arrangement will maintain the integrity of Australia's nuclear 
non-proliferation safeguards, will at the same time simplifying the transfer 
of Australian derived plutonium to Japan, Australia's second biggest 
uranium export market.

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The Committee's recommendations are reproduced on the next page.

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Canberra

23 March 1999

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For comment, please contact Mr Thomson in his 
Parliament House office on (02) 6277 2090. For infor  mation, please contact the Committee Secretariat on (02) 6277 4002, 
facsimile (02) 6277 4827, or e-mail jsct@aph.gov.au

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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

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Fifth Protocol to the General 
Agreement on Trade in Services

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The Committee supports the   Fifth Protocol to the General Agreement on Trade 
in Services   and recommends that binding treaty action be taken.

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International Telecommunications Union Final Acts 
of the World Radiocommunications Conference - Partial Revision of the 
Radio Regulations

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The Committee:

(a) supports the partial revision of the International Telecommunications

Union's Radio Regulations;

(b) agrees that Australia should formally consent to be bound by the

revised Radio Regulations; 
and

(c) supports the maintenance of the reservation expressed in November

1995.

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Implementing Arrangement 
with the   European 
Atomic Energy Community Concerning Plutonium Transfers

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The Committee supports the   Implementing Arrangement between the Government 
of Australia and the European Atomic Energy Community concerning Plutonium 
Transfers   and recommends that binding treaty action be taken.

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Treaty with the Government of Poland on Extradition

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The Committee supports the   Treaty between Australia and the Republic of Poland 
on Extradition   and recommends that binding treaty action be taken.

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Amendments to the Schedule to the International 
Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

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The Committee supports the   Amendments to the Schedule to the International 
Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.

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Agreement on Medical Treatment for Temporary Visitors 
with the Government of New Zealand

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The Committee supports the   Agreement on Medical Treatment for Temporary Visitors 
between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand   and recommends that 
binding treaty action be taken.

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JS

