Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties I present the committee’s report entitled Report 101—Treaties tabled on 3 February 2009. I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the report and to have the tabling statement incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

The statement read as follows—

Mr President, I present Report 101 of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties. The report reviews two treaty actions:

• the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions; and
• the Agreement between Australia and the European Community on Trade in Wine.

In each case the Committee has supported the proposed treaties and recommended that binding treaty action be taken.

The Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions identifies the expression of culture by an individual or group as a tangible entity. The purpose of the Convention is to protect and promote the diverse range of these cultural expressions in an increasingly globalised world.

The Convention requires nations to undertake to assist the creation of cultural expressions, both domestically and abroad, through regulatory, legislative, financial and technical assistance, and to report to the United Nations on these measures. The Convention is particularly concerned with securing cultural expressions that are under immediate threat and securing the cultural expressions of developing nations.

Mr President, the Committee is of the view that the Convention will help to develop and maintain Australia’s cultural industries and to protect Australia’s valuable cultural expressions. The Committee considers that accession to the Convention will demonstrate to the international community Australia’s commitment to cultural diversity and will expand Australia’s active engagement with UNESCO.

The Committee also considered the Agreement between Australia and the European Community on Trade in Wine.

Mr President, under the Agreement, Australia and the European Community are required to accept a range of wine labelling restrictions based on the production and geographical origin of the wine, and to recognise 16 previously unauthorised winemaking techniques.

Significantly, Australian fortified wine makers will be required to phase out the use of the terms ‘Port’ and ‘Sherry’ within 12 months of the entry into force of the Agreement, and the term ‘Tokay’ will have to be phased out within 10 years of the Agreement’s entry into force.

Mr President, the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation assured the Committee that, whilst there will be a cost to the industry in ceasing the use of these wine names, the agreement will secure the use of terms valuable to Australia’s fortified wine industry including ‘ruby’, ‘tawny’, ‘vintage’ and ‘cream’. Also, the Government has provided financial assistance to assist in the re-badging of wines. This project will see the term ‘Sherry’ replaced with the term ‘Apera’ within twelve months, and the term ‘Tokay’ replaced with ‘Topaque’ within 10 years.

In exchange for Australia’s acceptance of these labelling restrictions, the European Community will be required to permit the import and marketing of Australian wines produced using 16 winemaking techniques which previously lacked authorisation. Therefore Australian wine makers stand to gain greater access to European wine markets under the Agreement.

Mr President, the Committee considers that accession to the Agreement will strengthen trade between Australia and the European Community. The Committee is of the view that the Agreement will provide Australian winemakers with greater, and more secure, access to European wine markets.

I thank the numerous agencies, individuals and organisations who assisted in the Committee’s inquiries.

I commend the report to the Senate.