CANBERRA – The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) will convene public hearings on Monday, June 29, 2026, to examine two distinct international agreements concerning regional security and intellectual property.
The inquiries focus on a security pact with Indonesia and a global treaty on genetic resources, both of which carry implications for Australia’s diplomatic standing, national security, and the legal protections afforded to Indigenous traditional knowledge.
Australia-Indonesia Security Framework
The first inquiry centers on the Treaty between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on Common Security, referred to as the Jakarta Treaty.
Under Australia’s treaty-making process, JSCOT scrutinises all major agreements tabled in Parliament before the Government decides whether to proceed to ratification, providing a key layer of parliamentary oversight of foreign and security policy settings. In this case, the committee is tasked with determining if the agreement serves Australia’s national interests.
Central to this assessment is an examination of the consultation requirements between the two nations and the specific nature and scope of security cooperation activities authorized under the treaty, including how information-sharing, defence cooperation and crisis consultation would operate in practice.
Committee Chair Ms Lisa Chesters MP described Indonesia as one of Australia’s most important partners, stating that the bilateral relationship is “integral to the security of our shared region.”
“The Committee will interrogate how this Treaty strengthens our relationship while safeguarding the interests of both countries,” Ms Chesters said, adding that the hearings would also consider how the framework aligns with existing regional arrangements and Australia’s broader defence and foreign policy settings.
Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge Protections
The second hearing will address the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge (GRATK).
The proposed treaty seeks to mandate the disclosure of sources in patent applications that are based on genetic resources and traditional knowledge. JSCOT will evaluate the effectiveness of this disclosure framework and the subsequent impact of ratification on key stakeholders, including its interaction with Australia’s domestic patent regime administered by IP Australia.
The committee’s review will specifically consider the effects on:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including the protection of cultural authority over traditional knowledge
- The Australian agricultural sector, particularly plant breeding and biotechnology industries
- Patent applicants and intellectual property holders, in terms of compliance obligations and innovation incentives
Ms Chesters noted that Australia possesses unique genetic resources and traditional knowledge, adding, “This Treaty provides an opportunity to enhance transparency in our patent system while recognising and valuing traditional knowledge.” The GRATK treaty has been negotiated under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization, positioning Australia within a broader multilateral effort to curb misappropriation of Indigenous and local knowledge.
Evidence and Proceedings
The committee will hear evidence from a range of government departments and industry representatives to inform its final recommendations, which will be reported to Parliament in line with the committee’s mandate under the treaties review framework.
The scheduled witnesses include:
- The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
- The Department of Defence
- IP Australia
- CropLife Australia
The proceedings will take place in Committee Room 2R1 at Parliament House in Canberra.
The hearings are scheduled as follows:
- 11:00 am: Inquiry into the Jakarta Treaty
- 11:30 am: Inquiry into the WIPO Treaty on IP and Genetic Resources
- Duration: Approximately 11:00 am to 1:00 pm AEST
The sessions will be broadcast live via aph.gov.au/live, with JSCOT’s final report expected to guide the Government’s decision on whether Australia proceeds to ratify each agreement.
