EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Subject - South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty Act 1986
South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty Regulations
Statutory Rules 1988 No. 353
Section 35 of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty Act 1986 (the Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with the Act, prescribing matters required or permitted by the Act to be prescribed or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.
The Act gives effect in Australian law to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (the Treaty). The Treaty contains a Complaints Procedure which provides for the appointment of inspectors who are to be granted privileges and immunities necessary for the performance of their functions.
Pursuant to section 19 of the Act, where the Minister is satisfied that a person has been appointed as an inspector in accordance with the Treaty, the Minister shall declare that person to be a Treaty inspector for the purposes of the Act.
Section 22 of the Act provides for the exercise of certain powers by a Treaty inspector for the purposes of carrying out a Treaty inspection.
The enclosed regulations have been prepared to confer on Treaty inspectors the privileges and immunities provided for in the Treaty in respect of the exercise of a power pursuant to section 22 of the Act.