David Feeney (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you for the question. The government asserts that this bill has been drafted to ensure that it allows Australia to fulfil entirely its obligations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and to exercise its rights at international law. The geographical limitations in division 5 of part 2 ensure that the exercise of enforcement powers in Australia's maritime zones in other countries and between countries is consistent with international law. In particular, the bill reflects the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea that outline the jurisdictional rights of coastal states to take enforcement action on the seas. For example, UNCLOS, the UN convention, gives states the right to identify vessels without nationality on the high seas, and this is provided for in the bill. Maritime officers will also be able to exercise maritime powers available under international decisions, such as UN Security Council resolutions and international agreements between Australia and other countries. I would particularly refer the senator to clauses 12, 19 and 33.