Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties I present the following reports: Report 159, Treaty Tabled on 1 December 2015, and Report 160, A history of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties: 20 years.

Reports made parliamentary papers in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—Today I present two reports for the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties: Report 159 and Report 160.

Report 159 contains the committee's views on the Agreement between Australia and the Republic of Austria on Social Security. Report 160 is a brief history of the committee to mark 20 years since it commenced its work.

The proposed Agreement with Austria is the latest Australian bilateral social security agreement. These agreements serve to coordinate pension payments between the signatories and avoid double liability payments for persons working in both countries. The proposed agreement consolidates three existing agreements between Austria and Australia on social security. The initial agreement was signed in 1992 and has been regularly updated and amended. As a result, it has become cumbersome and difficult to negotiate. The new agreement will be easier to read and more accessible. For both countries, transitional provisions are included to make sure that people paid under the current agreements will continue to receive the same benefit at the same rate.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that in 2014 there were some 19,240 Austrian-born people in Australia and 12,740 of those were aged over 60. Evidence to the committee stated that under the current agreement, Austria pays 3,868 people in Australia approximately $14.4 million annually, and Australia pays 864 people in Austria approximately $4.8 million. The committee recommends that the agreement between Australia and the Republic of Austria on social security be ratified and that a binding treaty action be taken.

The second report marks a significant milestone for the committee and for the parliament more broadly. The parliament resolved to set up JSCOT in May 1996, and the committee met for the first time on 17 June 1996. The 1996 reforms saw all treaty actions signed by Australia tabled in parliament and subject to parliamentary scrutiny through the committee's processes. Treaties have become increasingly complex. Australians are more connected to the broader world through trade, education and migration. International agreements increasingly affect not only broad issues of state but the actions and responsibilities of individual citizens. The majority of treaty actions are now subject to a public inquiry process, allowing all Australians to have a voice in the treaty-making process. In 20 years, JSCOT has considered over 800 treaty actions and produced 160 reports.

This report includes a history of the treaty-making power in Australia as well as the development of treaty-making practice and procedure. It also includes a summary of the committee's reports to date and provides some useful statistical data. The committee is also holding a full day seminar here in Parliament House on 18 March to mark the occasion. The event will bring together parliamentarians, academics, public servants and members of the public to look at the effectiveness of the 1996 reforms. It is an opportunity to look back over the past 20 years and forward to the next decades. Presenters will talk about what works, what could be done better, and how parliamentary scrutiny can ensure that Australia's treaties are always in our best interest. I would like to invite colleagues to join us for this important event. Full details, including information about the program, are available from the secretariat or on our JSCOT website.

On behalf of the committee, I commend both reports to the House.

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