asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs upon notice on 31 August 2012:

With reference to the Criminal Code Amendment (Cluster Munitions Prohibition) Bill 2010 and the Convention on Cluster Munitions:

(1) What form will the 'public statement' or 'non-legislative assurances' take, to be made by the Government at the time of Australia's ratification of the convention.

(2) Is there a process under the convention enabling such statements.

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

It is intended that the public statement confirming the Government's commitment to not approve the stockpiling of cluster munitions in Australia by foreign governments will take the form of a Ministerial media release.

There is no specific provision in the Convention. States Parties are free to make public statements on their commitments to the Convention at any stage.