EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Subject: Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987
Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (Republic of Austria) Regulations
Section 44 of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987 (the Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations for the purposes of the Act. Paragraph 7(2)(a) of the Act provides that regulations may apply the Act to a specified foreign country to give effect to a bilateral mutual assistance treaty.
A Treaty Between Australia and the Republic of Austria on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters was signed on 20 October 1988. A copy of the Treaty is set out in the Schedule to the regulations.
Details of the regulations are as follows:
Regulation 1 is a citation provision.
Regulation 2 provides for the regulations to commence on 1 December 1990.
Regulation 3 is an interpretation provision.
Regulation 4 applies the Act to the Republic of Austria subject to the Treaty which is reproduced as a Schedule to the Regulations. Article 1 of the Treaty defines its scope and lists the type of assistance which can be rendered under the Treaty.