EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES) ACT
1963 - COMMISSION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ANTARCTIC
MARINE LIVING RESOURCES (PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES)
REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
Statutory Rules 1983 No. 145 Issued by authority of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
The purpose of these amendments to the above regulations is to accord privileges and immunities to representatives of members of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources attending the Second Meeting of the Commission in Hobart.
The Second Meeting of the Commission will be held in Hobart between 29 August and 9 September 1983. One of the major purposes of the meeting will be to settle the terms of the Headquarters Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Commission. In order to facilitate the performance by the Commission of its functions under the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and in anticipation of a permanent regime of privileges and immunities to be accorded under the Headquarters Agreement, it is desirable that a regime of privileges and immunities should be made applicable to the Commission’s Second Meeting.
By Statutory Rules No. 22 of 1983, the Commission was declared to be an organisation to which the International Organizations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1963 applies, and
the Commission and its staff were given a range of privileges and immunities necessary for the performance of their functions.
The amendments will have the effect of according privileges and immunities to persons representing countries other than Australia, and an appropriate international organisation, at the meeting. This will be in accordance with international practice.
Privileges and immunities to which such persons will be entitled include immunity from arrest and detention, immunity from suit and other legal process in respect of official acts, inviolability of papers, the right to use codes and to send documents in sealed bags, exemption from immigration and national service laws, and exemption from currency and exchange restrictions.
The immunity from suit in respect of official acts will continue after the completion of the representative’s functions.