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

CHESTERS () (): On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present the committee's report entitled Report 227: Nauru-Australia Treaty; radio regulations WRC-23.

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

by leave—I rise today to make a short statement on the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties's report into the Nauru-Australia Treaty; the partial revision of the 2019 radio regulations, as incorporated into the final acts of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023; and the minor treaty action in renewal of and modification to the New Arrangements to Borrow. The Nauru-Australia Treaty establishes, for the first time, a partnership between Australia and Nauru that focuses on economic, security and governance cooperation between our two nations. Nauru is one of our closest neighbours, and, historically, we have entered into several agreements to address bilateral, domestic and transnational security challenges. We have also shared strong people-to-people ties, supported through a significant Nauru diaspora here in Australia and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme.

This treaty was negotiated following a proposal from the government of Nauru to reinforce bilateral partnership with Australia. The treaty will see Australia maintain its role as a key security and development partner to Nauru. In return, Australia commits to $140 million in support over five years to bolster Nauru's fiscal stability, policing and economic resilience. During the inquiry, the committee heard that there are a number of mechanisms in place to provide ongoing assurance for transparency and accountability in Nauru's fiscal and financial management systems. This will ensure that Australia's funds are being utilised effectively and efficiently in Nauru.

The treaty underscores Australia's commitment to being a security and development partner of choice in the Pacific and sets a precedent for similar arrangements with other Pacific nations. Nauru has ratified the treaty, but Australia's ratification is pending. Until we complete our ratification, our relationship relies upon informal arrangements, limiting how effectively we can work together. By finalising Australia's ratification, we'll provide both countries with a clear and structured framework, which will strengthen cooperation and our relationship. The committee supports the Nauru-Australia Treaty and recommends binding treaty action be taken.

The radio regulations are a binding international treaty framework which manages the use of the radiofrequency spectrum, which is essential to global communications infrastructure such as mobile phone networks, GPS and emergency distress systems. Created by the International Telecommunications Union, of which Australia has been a longstanding member, the regulations are often revised at the World Radiocommunications Conference to reflect evolving technology and needs. Australia signed the final acts of the 2023 conference and intends to ratify the changes of the 2019 radio regulations to align with international standards. The radio regulations oblige Australia to assign and change frequencies to avoid interference with other member states' existing and future assignments. There is flexibility for Australia to make spectrum allocations and rules, so long as they do not cause harmful interference. Australia has undertaken a four-year consultation process led by the department of infrastructure, with technical support from the Australian Communications and Media Authority, which involved hearing from a wide range of stakeholders, including government, industry and other specialists. This treaty imposes no obligations or costs on Australia. The committee recommends the partial revision of the 2019 radio regulations and recommends binding treaty action be taken.

The report also contains one minor treaty action—the Renewal of the modification of new arrangements to borrow, a multilateral borrowing agreement between the International Monetary Fund and 40 members to support stability in the global economy. The committee has resolved that the minor treaty action be endorsed without inquiry and recommends that binding treaty action be taken. On behalf of the committee, I recommend the report to the House.

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