DFAT Annual Report 2006-2007 : Appendix 5 Inquiries by parliamentary committees

Inquiries by parliamentary committees

During the review period, the department made submissions and/or gave evidence to the following parliamentary committees.

Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

A review of the Australia–New Zealand Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Agreement, submission dated 22 September 2006
Inquiry into Australia’s relationship with Malaysia, submission dated 1 August 2006, hearing held on 9 October 2006
Inquiry into Australia’s trade with Mexico and the Region, submission dated 8 December 2006, hearing held on 7 February 2007
Inquiry into Australia’s relationship with India as an emerging world power, hearing held on 3 November 2006
Australia’s aid program in the Pacific, hearing held on 9 February 2007

Joint Standing Committee on Public Works

Proposed extension and accommodation upgrade to the existing chancery of the Australian Embassy in Beijing, China, submission dated September 2006, hearing held on 3 November 2006

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security

Review of the re-listing of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Jamiat ul-Ansar (JuA), Armed Islamic Group (GIA) and Salafist Group for Call and Combat(GSPC) as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code Act 1995, hearing held on 27 November 2006
Review of the re-listing of Tanzim Qa’idat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn (TQJBR) as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code Act 1995, hearing held on 23 March 2007
Inquiry into the terrorist organisation listing provisions of the Criminal Code Act 1995, hearing held on 4 April 2007
Review of the re-listing of Hizballah’s External Security Organisation (ESO) as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code Act 1995, hearing held on 18 June 2007

Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Supplementary Estimates 2006–2007, hearing held on 2 November 2006
Additional Estimates 2006–2007, hearing held on 15 February 2007
Budget Estimates 2007–2008, hearings held on 28 and 29 May 2007
Inquiry into the nature and conduct of Australia’s public diplomacy, submission dated 8 February 2007, hearings held on 14 March and 15 May 2007
Inquiry into Australia’s involvement in peacekeeping operations, submission dated 20 March 2007

Senate Standing Committee on Employment, Workplace Relations and Education

Inquiry into Pacific Region seasonal contract labour, hearing held on 22 August 2006

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, Finance and Public Administration

Inquiry into the current and future directions of Australia’s services export sector, submission dated 16 August 2006, hearing held on 1 December 2006
Inquiry into the state of Australia’s manufactured export and import competing base now and beyond the resources boom, submission dated 13 September 2006, hearing held on 1 December 2006

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Workplace Relations and Workforce Participation

Inquiry into workforce challenges in the Australian tourism sector, submission dated September 2006, hearing held on 15 February 2007

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services

Inquiry into Balancing Work and Family, hearing held on 11 October 2006

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Science and Innovation

Inquiry into Geosequestration Technology, hearing held on 6 October 2006

Joint Standing Committee on Treaties

Departmental officers appeared before the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties in respect of proposed treaty actions.

The department appeared on 14 August 2006 in respect of:
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United Mexican States on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments and Protocol, done at Mexico City on 23 August 2005
- Agreement relating to Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America, done at Canberra on 28 February 2006
- Amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), done at Vienna on 8 July 2005
- Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Japan to replace the Delineated and Recorded Japanese Nuclear Fuel Cycle Program, done at Canberra on 23 November 2006
- Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Singapore to amend Annex 2C and Annex 2D of the Singapore–Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) to ensure compliance with changes to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System
- Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America to amend Annex 4A and 5A of the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) to ensure compliance with changes to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System
- Exchange of Letters constituting an Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand to Amend Article 3 of the Australia–New Zealand Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Agreement
- Revision of the International Health Regulations, done at Geneva on 23 May 2005
The department appeared on 4 September 2006 in respect of:
- Treaty between the Government of Australia and the Government of Malaysia on Extradition, done at Putrajaya on 15 November 2005
- Exchange of Notes between the Government of Australia and the Government of Malaysia on Extradition, done at Kuala Lumpur on 7 December 2005
- Treaty between the Government of Australia and the Government of Malaysia on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, done at Putrajaya on 15 November 2005
- Exchange of Notes between the Government of Australia and the Government of Malaysia on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, done at Kuala Lumpur on 7 December 2005
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the Transfer of Nuclear Material, done at Canberra on 3 April 2006
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for the Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, done at Canberra on 3 April 2006
The department appeared on 11 September 2006 in respect of:
- Convention between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of France for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with respect to the Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion, done at Paris on 20 June 2006
- Convention between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with respect to the Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion, done at Canberra on 8 August 2006
- Amendments to the Annex to the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for the Protection of Migratory Birds and their Environment of 20 October 1986, done at Shanghai on 26 May 2006
- Amendments to the Annex to the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Japan for the Protection of Migratory Birds in Danger of Extinction and their Environment of 6 February 1974, agreed in Shanghai on 25 May 2006
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China relating to Air Services, done at Canberra on 23 March 2004
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the India relating to Air Services, done at New Delhi on 6 March 2006
- Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War, to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects, done at Geneva on 28 November 2003
- Treaty between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, done at Canberra on 3 April 2006
- Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America to amend Annex 2B (Tariff Schedule of Australia), Annex 4A and Annex 5A of the Australia–United Stated Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) to ensure compliance with changes to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System
The department appeared on 9 October in respect of:
- Exchange of Letters constituting an Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand to amend Article 3 of the Australia–New Zealand Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Agreement of 28 March 1983
- Amendment to Annex 1 to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter of 1972, done at London on 2 November 2006
The department appeared on 25 October 2006 in respect of:
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the Transfer of Nuclear Material, done at Canberra on 3 April 2006
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, done at Canberra 3 April 2006
The department appeared on 27 November 2006 in respect of:
- Amendments to the Schedule to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling of 2 December 1946, done at St Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean on 20 June 2006
The department appeared on 5 December 2006 in respect of:
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia concerning Transfer of Sentenced Persons, done at Canberra on 11 October 2006
The department appeared on 26 February 2007 in respect of:
- Treaty between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste on Certain Maritime Arrangements in the Timor Sea, done at Sydney on 12 January 2006
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on the Framework for Security Cooperation, done at Lombok on 13 November 2006
The department appeared on 26 March 2007 in respect of:
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Swiss Confederation on Social Security, done at Canberra on 9 October 2006
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Finland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasions, done at Melbourne on 20 November 2006
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Korea on the Protection of Migratory Birds, done at Canberra on 6 December 2006
- Exchange of Notes constituting an agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Korea on the Protection of Migratory Birds, done at Canberra on 6 December 2006
- Measure 4 (2006) Specially Protected Species: Fur Seals, done at Edinburgh on 23 June 2006
The department appeared on 30 April 2007 in respect of:
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on the Framework for Security Cooperation, done at Lombok on 13 November 2006
The department appeared on 18 June 2007 in respect of:
- Agreement concerning the Establishing of Global Technical Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be Fitted and/or be Used on Wheeled Vehicles, done at Geneva on 25 June 1998
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Korea on Social Security, done at Canberra on 6 December 2006
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on Social Security to govern persons temporarily employed in the territory of the other State (Supplementary Agreement), Concluding Protocol and Implementation Arrangement, done at Berlin on 9 February 2007
- Amendments to the Constitution and Convention of the International Telecommunication Union of Geneva 1992, as amended by the Plenipotentiary Conference of Kyoto 1994, by the Plenipotentiary Conference of Minneapolis 1998 and by the Plenipotentiary Conference of Marrakesh 2002, done at Antalya on 24 November 2006
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of South Africa relating to Scientific and Technological Cooperation, done at Canberra on 18 October 2006
- Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem (Protocol III—the Red Crystal), done at Geneva on 8 December 2005
- Treaty between Australia and the Kingdom of Thailand on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, done at Kuala Lumpur on 27 July 2006
- Protocol between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China amending the Agreement for the Surrender of Accused and Convicted Persons of 15 November 1993, done at Hong Kong on 19 March 2007
The department appeared on 22 June 2007 in respect of:
- Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Singapore to amend Annex 2C and Annex 2D of the Singapore–Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) to ensure compliance with changes to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS2007)
- Protocol Amending the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), done at Geneva on 6 December 2005
- Framework Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on Cooperation in Military Fields, done at Canberra on 13 June 2006
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda on the Exchange of Information with Respect to Taxes, done at St John’s in Antigua on 30 January 2007
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in respect of the Netherlands Antilles for the Exchange of Information with Respect to Taxes, done at Canberra on 1 March 2007
- Agreement on Operational and Strategic Cooperation between Australia and the European Police Office (Europol), done at The Hague on 20 February 2007
- Agreement on Health Care Insurance between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium, done at Canberra on 10 August 2006
- Extension of the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in relation to the functioning of the Australian Patent Office as an International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority under the Patent Cooperation Treaty of June 1970
- International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water of London 2004

Briefings provided to parliamentary committees

The department provided private briefings to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT), on the following issues:

Outcomes of the AUSFTA on 9 August 2006
The situation in Darfur on 10 August 2006
Australia’s relationship with Malaysia on 14 August 2006
Australia’s relationship with Singapore on 4 September 2006
WTO update and the status of the Doha Round on 6 September 2006
The situation in East Timor on 11 September 2006
Developments in Thailand on 9 October 2006
Trade with Mexico and the region on 11 October 2006
The situation in Burma on 16 October 2006
Issues surrounding the allegations of organ harvesting in China on 16 October 2006
Australia’s relationship with Indonesia on 27 November 2006
The situation in Zimbabwe on 28 March 2007
The situation in East Timor, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands on 18 June 2007
The situation in Pakistan on 20 June 2007
Update of the negotiations for a possible Australia–Gulf Cooperation Council FTA on 20 June 2007

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