Categories 1 and 2 Treaties
Because the Government believes that the scrutiny of treaties should be thorough, most treaties are tabled for 20 parliamentary sitting days. By definition, treaties with this 20 day tabling period are Category 1 treaties. The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties can be expected to table its reports on Category 1 treaties within that 20 day period.
Category 2 treaties are for the most part uncontroversial in nature and relatively routine in form. They are tabled for only 15 parliamentary sitting days. The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties can be expected to table its reports on Category 2 treaties within that 15 day period.
Category 2 Treaties: Tabled for 15 sitting days
BILATERAL |
MULTILATERAL |
Air Services Defence: - Protection of Classified Information - Status of Forces Employment of Spouses of Diplomatic Representatives Extradition Investment Promotion and Protection Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Prisoner Transfer Taxation: - Double Taxation - Taxation Information Exchange |
Communications, including: - Intelsat - World Radio Conference Postal, including: - Asian Pacific Postal Union - Universal Postal Union Procedural amendments by International Organisations |
Departments handling treaties should consult the Treaties Secretariat in the International Legal Division at DFAT in order to ascertain whether treaty actions should be tabled as Category 1 or 2.
Contact details:
Treaties Secretariat
International Legal Division, DFAT