House of Representatives

Explanatory Memorandum

Circulated By Authority of the Minister for Foreign Affairs The Hon. A. A. Street, M.P.

Explanation of Clauses

Clause 1:

Formal clause.

Clause 2:

(a)

This sub-clause expands the definition of "international conference" to include a meeting attended by both Australia and prescribed organisations. A prescribed organization may be either "an international organization to which this Act applies" or "an overseas organization to which this Act applies". The former category of organization already exists under the Act; the latter category is defined in Clause 3 of the Bill.

(b)

This sub-clause defines "overseas organizations" to include all subsidiary bodies of such organisations.

(c)

and (d) These sub-clauses amend sub-section 3(3) and paragraph 3(4)(a) of the Act so that all reference to representatives of countries will include a reference to representatives of international organisations.

Clause 3:

This clause allows an organization to be declared under the Regulations to be "an overseas organization to which this Act applies" if it is an organization of countries in a particular geographical region and Australia is not a member of it.

Clauses 4 and 5

These clauses amend Sections 6 and 7 of the Act so that all references in those Sections to representatives of countries will include references to representatives of international organisations and of overseas organisations.

Clause 6:

This clause authorises the making of Regulations to exempt from taxation on certain income, experts and other classes of people participating in the work of prescribed organisations.

Clause 7:

Formal clause.