EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES) ACT 1963
INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER ORGANIZATION (PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES) REGULATIONS
STATUTORY RULES 1984 No. 477 ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The International Tropical Timber Organization (the Organization) is an intergovernmental organization established under the International Tropical Timber Agreement 1983 (the Agreement). The objectives of the Organization are to promote international trade in tropical timber, to encourage international research into reforestation and forest management activities, and to promote international cooperation in the development of national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and conservation of tropical timber forests.
Article 17 of the Agreement provides that the Organization shall have legal personality. Before Australia may accede to the Agreement it is necessary that there be in place regulations to accord to the Organization juridical status and such legal powers as are necessary for the performance of its functions.
In Australia, privileges and immunities may be accorded to international organizations by regulations made under the International Organizations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1983 (the Act).
Section 13 of the Act provides that the Governor-General may make regulations not inconsistent with the Act for matters for carrying out or giving effect to the Act. Section 4 of the Act provides that regulations may be made to declare an international organization to be an organization to which the Act applies. Section 6 of the Act provides, furthermore, that the regulations may confer such an international organisation juridical personality, such legal capacities as are necessary for the exerise of the powers and the performance of its functions and all or any of the privileges and immunities specified in the First Schedule to the Act.
The regulations enclosed herewith have been prepared to enable Australia to accede to the Agreement by according to the Organization juridical personality and legal capacity necessary to the performance of its functions.
Statutory Rules 1984