AUSTRALIAN TREATY SERIES
[2014] ATS 21

Dear Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

Is it possible to provide the following documents, with redactions or omissions if necessary, on the TREATY between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Australia for Defence and Security Cooperation signed on 18 January 2013 ([2014] ATS 21):

- diplomatic notes exchanged between Australia and the UK on their completion of "respective internal procedures" and the entry into force of the treaty?
(This is said in Article 13 paragraph 1, of the treaty)

- "full powers" for both parties to sign the treaty.

(Considering past requests to DFAT, I explain here that "full powers" is standard terminology which refers to a document that a head of state, a head of government, or the foreign minister, authorises someone else to sign or conclude a treaty on the state's behalf. Whether or not the document contains the term "full powers" in its heading for instance is really for Australia or the UK to decide on their own.)

On the above - if there are issues in providing copies of diplomatic notes or full powers from the UK, would it be possible to at least provide copy of such diplomatic notes and full powers from Australia?

Thank yous!

Yours faithfully,

Tyler