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| The national magazine of the United Nations Association of Australia ISSN 1035-218X No 152 Weekly News Summary No 68 December 7, 1998 Editor: Ian Mathews Ph: (02) 6281 4025 Fax (02) 6285 2529 Email: imathews@ozemail.com.au
In this edition ... Scrutiny of Bills: environment; youth wages Senate committeeās East Timor inquiry Home work Convention and Recommendation Radioactivity: in space and at home
Scrutiny of Bills: environment; youth wages The Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, which raises questions of personal rights and liberties on new legislation, has sought advice from the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts on his portfolio responsibility of environment and heritage, relating to the National Environment Protection Measures (Implementation) Bill 1998. The committee has asked why the Bill allows the Minister to notify by Gazette authorisation that State and Territory law will apply in certain circumstances. The committee says this power appears to be legislative and would normally be carried by a disallowable instrument rather than by Gazette notice. The Committee notes, also that the Bill provides that information in a report of an environmental audit is not admissible in evidence in any civil or criminal proceedings against the Commonwealth, if the Commonwealth is involved. Given there is no explanation why this measure is in the Bill, the Committee is seeking the ministerās advice why such environmental audit reports should not be admissible in proceedings against the Commonwealth. The Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Youth Employment) Bill 1998 "may be considered to trespass unduly on personal rights and liberties ..." in stating that "junior wage provisions are not to be treated as constituting discrimination by reason of age", according to the Scrutiny of Bills Committee. While acknowledging that the amendment "...may have been included in the bill to avoid conflict with the provisions of other legislation", the committee recognises that some people regard such a provision as trespassing on personal rights and liberties, and is seeking clarification from the Minister of Workplace Relations. For more information: Senator B.Cooney, committee chairman, (02) 6277 7111
Senate committeeās East Timor inquiry A major inquiry into conditions in East Timor has been referred by the Senate to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee. Proposed by the Opposition, the inquiry will inquiry into:
The Opposition has proposed, also, a separate inquiry into the deaths of Australian-based journalists in East Timor in 1975, when the re-established Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade meets. For more information: Call Paul Barsdell, Secretary of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee (02) 6277 3535 fax (02) 6277 5818 e-mail: fadt.sen@aph.gov.au or Senator John Hogg, Committee chairman (02) 6277 3545 or the Opposition spokesman on foreign affairs, Laurie Brereton, (02) 6277 4717 or (02) 9349 6007. *** The Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee held a public hearing on Friday, December 4, on its India/Pakistan nuclear weapon inquiry, at which evidence was taken from officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Home work Convention and Recommendation Australia will not accept two ILO instruments concerning home work conditions, Convention No 177 and Recommendation No 184. The Government is still consulting with relevant organisations, states and territories. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was "strongly opposed" to ratification of the Convention as being unsuitable. The ACTU fully endorsed ratification and acceptance of the Recommendation. The Governmentās position "for the moment" is that the ILO instruments concerning home work are not suitable for acceptance and will not consider ratification. For more information: Minister of Workplace Relations and Small Business (02) 6277 7320; Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (03) 9289 5289; ACTU (03) 9663 5266
Legal aid and native title Anybody or organisation involved or intending to be involved in an inquiry, mediating or proceeding relating to native title is now entitled to legal aid assistance up to 100 per cent of Federal Court costs, without any contribution from the parties involved. The Attorney-Generalās guidelines specifically mention such aid is available to incorporated and unincorporated bodies, including local government, and that peak bodies such as those representing farming or graziers, can represent respondents. For copies of the revised financial assistance guidelines, call the Attorney-Generalās Department (02) 6250 6770
Radioactivity: in space and at home A proposed amendment to the Space Activities Bill 1998, put forward by the Australian Democrats to exclude private sector organisations launching radioactive and toxic materials into space with the possibility of their return to earth, was defeated in Parliament last week by the combined vote of the Government and the ALP in the Senate. The amendment would have made the appropriate minister responsible for authorising such private sector operations. For more information, call Senator Natasha Stott Despoja (08) 8232 7595 or Dr Charles Lawson (02) 6277 3645. The Government has given an undertaking to Democrats leader Senator Meg Lees that Australia will not accept radioactive waste from other countries. The Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator Nick Minchin, is quoted by her as saying, "... but I say that no high level radioactive waste facility is planned for Australia and the Government has absolutely no intention of accepting the radioactive waste of other countries. The policy is clear and absolute and will not be changed. We will not be accepting radioactive waste from other countries. ..." The Government has accepted recommendations of the Senate Community Affairs and Legislation Committee to its Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Bill 1998 which establishes the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency to licence all facilities using radiation or nuclear materials for industrial, scientific or medical purposes. Recommendations accepted related to exclusion of licences for nuclear power plants and reprocessing plants; adoption of safety standards of worldās best practice; and widened processes for public comment. For more information: Senator Nick Minchin, Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, (02) 6277 7111 or (08) 1800 81 7712 or (08) 8396 2610 Opposition health spokesperson Jenny Macklin (02) 6277 2035 or (03) 9459 1411 Senator Lees (02) 6277 3991 or (08) 8295 8911; Australian Democrats website: http://www.democrats.org.au
More for de-mining Australia will fund four more civilian advisers to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre as part of its continuing commitment to clear anti-personnel landmines from Cambodia. These advisers are in addition to the two Australian military advisers already in Cambodia. The new advisers will help address needs identified by the UN Development Program in its evaluation of the centreās operations. So far, it is estimated that 525,000 mines and unexploded ordnance have been removed from Cambodia.
For more information: Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kathy Sullivan (02) 6277 4381 or Matt Francis at AusAid (02) 6206 4960
Funding for Middle East peace
Australia will provide $16 million over the next three years for Palestinian development activities to strengthen the Middle East peace process, $8 million of which will go to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for educational, health and employment services. This will be complemented by $4.5 million to Australian NGOs providing employment generation and health services. The remaining $3.5 million will go to agricultural and legal sectors, focused on transfer of technology and legal expertise in human rights. For more information, call the office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs (02) 6277 7500 or Deborah Nesbitt of AusAid (02) 6206 4966; or visit websites: www.dfat.gov.au or www.ausaid.gov.au
Work and pregnancy
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is to prepare guidelines relating to pregnancy and work to educate employers and employees on their rights and responsibilities. This follows the publication of the Commissionās issues paper on the topic. The guidelines will aim to provide employers, principals and commission agents, contract workers, partnerships and employment agencies with practical guidance of the Sex Discrimination Act relating to pregnancy and potential pregnancy. The reference from the Attorney-General is being undertaken by Sex Discrimination Commission Susan Halliday. The Commissionās final report is expected in May. Copies of the issues paper are available from HREOC: (02) 9284 9660 website: www.hreoc.gov.au
Climate and genetics A wide range of topics relevant to UN activities has been planned for Outlook 99, the annual economic forecasting conference arranged by ABARE. Next yearās conference, scheduled for March 17-18 in Canberra will discuss climate change policy; agricultural trade liberalisation; forest management; genetically modified organisms; and food to Asia among its varied sessions. For more information: call ABAREās Shelley Kissing (02) 6272 2291; e-mail: shelley.kissing@abare.gov.au or visit the ABARE website: www.abare.gov.au
Australia-Indonesia Institute John Reid, chairman of the Australian Graduate School of Management, and former chairman of James Hardie Industries, has been appointed chairman of the Australia-Indonesia Institute, succeeding Richard Woolcott who served as chairman for six years. For more information, call the office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs (02) 6277 7500 or the Department of Foreign Affairs (02) 6261 1555.
Science and human rights The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Science Conference, held at the University of NSW to mark the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights attracted speakers on a wide range of diverse topics which included Alternative Futures for Science in the Asia-Pacific in the 21st century; raising the profile of science; oceans and water; science and ethics - social issues; information technologies in the Pacific; cyberspace and the law. The conference produced the Sydney communique addressed to next yearās World Conference on Science, which emphasised the need to establish for the new millennium a new and balanced relationship between science, engineering and technology and society and the environment at all levels. For information and copies of the communique and addresses to the conference, call Ian Anderson of the UNESCO National Commission (02) 6261 2037 or e-mail: ian.c.anderson@dfat.gov.au UNESCO website: http://www.unesco.org
Kakadu concern The Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley, has questioned the economic sense of the Governmentās insistence in continuing to defy the World Heritage Committeeās call to halt work on the Jabiluka uranium mine. He argues that Australia sought the status of World Heritage listing for Kakadu both to preserve it and to reap the enormous benefits to the tourism industry. He suggests that the earnings from increased uranium mining is minimal in the face of damaging the $9 billion a year tourism industry. Senator Lyn Allison, Australian Democrats spokesperson on the environment, says the dollars earned in tourism by preserving Kakadu will in the long-term far outweigh those earned by allowing yet another multinational to profit from Australiaās destruction. For more comment: Leader of the Opposition (02) 6277 7111 or Senator Allisonās office (02) 6277 3169 Diary dates To December 11 Exhibition "Children in a New Land: Immigration Stories" Royal South Australian Society of Arts Gallery. To December 11 Conference of the Parties to the International Convention on Desertification, subsidiary bodies, Dakar, Senegal. December 4 - 8, XIIIth World Congress of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, University of Melbourne. Conference info: (03) 9486 6078 e-mail: mapw@ozemail.com.au
December 7 Women's Rights Action Network launch 6.30pm. YWCA (on Elizabeth St) in Melbourne. Speaker Moira Rayner December 7-10 UNANZ Asia-Pacific Model United Nations Assembly, Wellington, New Zealand, Information: Murray Nathan +(64) 7 824 7349 or Stephen Knightly +(64) 9 5282 482. or write to: Asia Pacific Model UN Assembly, C/o School of Law, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand. December 8 The State of the World's Children 1999 Report launch. December 8 Consultation on the Hague Appeal for Peace (Melbourne) 6.30-9.30pm Info: 03 9379 3889 fax (03) 9379 1711 December 8 12.30-2pm Seminar "Role of UNSCOM in ensuring peace in the world" AIIA (Vic), UNAA with Richard Butler, UNSCOM Info (03) 9654 7271fax (03) 9654 6605 December 8-10 HREOC conference on Declaration of Human Rights. Info: (02) 9284 9880 December 9 Seminar on the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at Australian Institute of International Affairs National Office, Stephen House, 32 Thesiger Court, Deakin ACT, 12.30 - 2.00pm Sponsors: AIIA National Office; ANU; and UNAA (ACT Division) Information: Call AIIA (02) 6282 2133 December 10 UN General Assembly commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Human Rights Day) December 10 UNAA (Victoria) hosts launch of the new Universal Rights Network on the Internet; 5.30pm-7pm, Lecture Theatre A," Old Arts", University of Melbourne. Dinner at University House. Information: UNAA (03) 9482 3655 Fax (03) 9482 5118 December 10 50th Birthday Party for Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Brunswick Town Hall, Melbourne 7pm-10pm Info:Sharmini Sherrard ACFOA 03 9417 7505 or acfoahr@acfoa.asn.au December 10 Human Rights Day Luncheon at Parliament House, Hobart. Speaker: Dr. Graham Hassall. Baha'i Faith; (03) 6225 1631 December 10 UNAA (ACT) Human Rights Stall Day at Glebe Park, ACT. Emphasis on landmines December 10 "The Global Rights Revolution" by Dr Keith Suter; UNAA (NSW) Joint function Australian Institute of International Affairs (NSW). Info: (02) 9221 1709 December 11-12 Democracy in Indonesia? The crisis and beyond conference, Melbourne, Info: Anne Nichol 03 9905 5280 fax 03 9905 5370 e-mail: Anne.Nichol@arts.monash.edu.au December 13 UNICEF's International Children's Day of Broadcasting December 14 Delivering effective humanitarian aid, (Melbourne), IDSS 03 9348 2288 or e-mail: idss@ozemail.com.au December 14-16 Breaking the Barriers Conference CIVICUS,Asia Pacific Regional Assembly, Bangkok, Thailand. Anyone wishing to represent ACFOA (and be assisted with airfares) Contact Heather Wallace, ACFOA (02) 6285 1816. Other inquiries: (02) 9221 1569 or e-mail: mbell@peg.apc.org March 1999 ACFOA Private Sector Engagement Workshop (formerly scheduled for December 1998)
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