Whoopsy: someone almost forgot to renew the US-Australia Space Vehicle Tracking and Communications Facilities Treaty

First 9 of 9 paragraphs shown Or did they? As they had no problems organising a US-Australia, CSIRO and NASA party to celebrate the extension on 25 February. Late filing was the reason given as why it was not debated in Parliement; and why only a one paragraph was in the public domain, described as " Report 109: Treaty tabled on 2 February 2010."
No debate: The current agreement ended on 26 February and the exchange of notes was only tabled in parliament on 2 February. Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party said this was not democratic. The CSIRO and NASA jointly operate three facilities in Australia: the Canberra deep space tracking station at Tidbinbilla in the ACT and the tracking and data relay satellite ranging system facilities in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory and Dongara in Western Australia. The tracking station, which is one of only three such facilities in the world—the others being Madrid in Spain and Goldstone in the United States are responsible for "providing a two-way communications link for the guidance and control of robotic spacecraft in deep space and for the relay of images and data".
Joint Standing Committee on Treaties not happy: The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon. Kim Carr, wrote to the committee requesting that consideration of the exchange of notes be expedited so that the agreement can be renewed by 26 February. The CSIRO manages most of NASA's activities in Australia. Since March 2003, Raytheon Australia has managed the CDSCC on behalf of the CSIRO and NASA.
Chair says it is not good look: “Because of the importance of the relationship between the CSIRO and NASA to Australian scientists, the committee has agreed to table a one-page report supporting treaty action in this instance. However, the committee is uncomfortable about making such a recommendation following such a short period for parliamentary and public scrutiny of a treaty action. Limiting the time available to the committee in this way undermines the effectiveness of parliamentary and public scrutiny of the exchange of notes.
Without discussion in a one paragraph note: The agreement concerning Space Vehicle Tracking and Communications Facilities, was due to expire on 26 February 2010, and was pushed through without discussion in a one paragraph note.
No discussion: The Treaties Committee resolved:
- to report its recommendation on the Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Australia to amend the Agreement concerning Space Vehicle Tracking and Communications Facilities (the Agreement) to the Parliament immediately, and will provide a more detailed report on the Agreement at a later date.
Recommendation 1: The Treaties Committee supports the Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Australia to amend the Agreement concerning Space Vehicle Tracking and Communications Facilities and recommends that binding treaty action be taken. “
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