Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present the committee's report, Report 220:PNG security relations; ILO 187.

Ordered that the report be made a parliamentary paper.

by leave—I am pleased to make a statement on the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties report, Report 220:PNG security relations; ILO 187. This report focuses on the JSCOT inquiries into the agreement between the Australian government and the government of Papua New Guinea on the framework for closer security relations and the International Labour Organisation Convention 187—the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention. This report also includes the committee's consideration of two minor treaty actions. The Australia-PNG closer security relations treaty aims to create a framework to deepen the security cooperation between Australia and Papua New Guinea, a close bilateral partner. The treaty creates obligations for the two countries to work more closely together on mutual security interests. The agreement reflects our longstanding cooperation, shared history, proximity and common strategic outlook. Australia and PNG already have a strong partnership, which includes a maritime border.

The agreement addresses both traditional and non-traditional security threats. For example, traditional areas of security include defence policing the border and maritime security. But the agreement also seeks to expand the concept of security in non-traditional areas such as cybersecurity, climate change, violence against women and children, and critical infrastructure. Specific obligations in the agreement focus on areas such as mutual security cooperations, status of forces, security consultations and the protection of information, plus settlement disputes. Issues raised in the public hearings include Australia's bilateral relationship with PNG, security focus of the agreement, individuals covered by the agreement, the treaty's expansion of the concept of security and, finally, critical infrastructure including cybersecurity issues.

The second treaty in this report is in relation to the International Labour Organization Convention No. 187, which improves work health and safety outcomes by ensuring that ILO members, like Australia, have national policies in place to promote safe and healthy work environments and advance the rights of workers. By ratifying this treaty, Australia shows it is committed to protecting workers from occupational harm. Australia's high workplace standards are demonstrated by the fact that we already have the policy systems and programs in place required by this treaty. Ratification, therefore, will not require any additional obligations, funding or future treaty action but will demonstrate Australia's resolve to ensuring workers' safety. Ratification of convention No. 187 places Australia in a small group of countries who have ratified all 10 fundamental ILO conventions. This positions Australia as a global leader of the promotion of international labour standards and will help improve workplace health and safety outcomes within Australia-Pacific, which is something that we should all be very proud of.

Two minor treaty actions in the report are amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers and amendments to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972. These seafarers amendments will ensure Australia's training, certification and water keeping standards are consistent with international standards, and the dumping amendments will help remove sewage sludge from the marine environment. The committee resolves that binding treaty action be taken for both major and minor treaty actions.

On behalf of the committee, I commend this report to the House.