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 entitled Report 223: Security Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperationon the Protection of Classified Information.

Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—I'm pleased to make a statement on the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties Report 223: Security Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation on the Protection of Classified Information, otherwise known as OCCAR. The report focuses on the treaties committee inquiry into the OCCAR agreement, which also includes the consideration of two minor treaty actions: the Amendment to the Loan Agreement between Australia and the International Monetary Fund and an amendment to the annex to the facilitation of international maritime traffic convention 1965.

The proposed major treaty action considered in this report is Australia's ratification of the OCCAR agreement. OCCAR is a European international government organisation that Australia participates in that coordinates defence equipment procurement and management programs. Australia currently has to create interim security arrangements for each OCCAR program that we participate in. The agreement establishes ongoing security measures to protect classified information generated from Australia's participation in these programs. Ratifying this agreement will create mutual security arrangements to protect Australia's classified information and will facilitate our continued participation in OCCAR managed programs such as the Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle, the Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopter and the MU90 Impact lightweight torpedo.

The committee heard evidence on the opportunities the agreement will provide to Australian defence industries and the impact that not ratifying would have on our existing strategic and defence relationships with our European counterparts.

The first minor treaty action covered in this report is the Amendment to the Loan Agreement between Australia and the International Monetary Fund. This amendment extends existing arrangements that Australia has with the IMF and helps secure the IMF ongoing financial stability.

The second minor treaty action in this report is the amendment to the annex to the facilitation of international maritime traffic convention 1965, which will continue the International Maritime Organization's work towards simplifying and harmonising international shipping procedures.

The committee supports the major and minor treaty action considered in this report and recommends that binding treaty action be taken. On behalf of the committee, I recommend this report to the House.