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 229: air service agreements: Saudi Arabia, Colombia and Peru.

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

by leave—Today I rise to make a statement on the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties's report into three treaty actions that establish the air service agreements between Australia and the Republic of Colombia, Australia and Peru, and Australia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These agreements provide the legal framework for airlines to operate between Australia and each of these countries, including provisions for safety, security, regulation, compliance and commercial arrangements. These agreements mark the first treaty-level air service relationships between Australia and these three countries.

Australia maintains friendly and cooperative relationships with Saudi Arabia, Colombia and Peru underpinned by trade, education and shared international commitments. Saudi Arabia is a key partner through the G20 membership and growing tourism links, including the introduction of a new e-visa for Australian travellers. With Peru, Australia engages across the mining, agriculture, education and tourism sectors, supporting the Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement. Australia and Colombia have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1975, collaborating on a range of issues of mutual interest, including energy, infrastructure, education and transnational crime.

The agreements are expected to build on these bilateral relationships, delivering benefits to Australian travellers and businesses, particularly in tourism, education and the airport sector. The agreements will allow airlines from each country to set up offices in other countries, to sell and promote their flights, and to use local services and staff. Airlines can also handle their own ground operations or offer ground services to others, as long as safety rules are followed. Importantly, the airlines must be given fair chance to access airport slots and be treated no less favourably than other airlines.

At a public hearing held in October, the committee heard from representatives from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The committee explored the value of these agreements, noting the strong education links between Australia, Saudi Arabia, Peru and Colombia. The committee found a range of goods and trades that would benefit directly from flights under the proposed agreements. Cargo holds for international passenger aircraft are well suited for transporting goods of high value that are time sensitive. Cut flowers are an example of trade between Australia and Colombia, as well as beef exports to Peru.