Law will ‘spell out’ rules to Govts

Press, 13 July 1985, Page 6

Law will ‘spell out’ rules to Govts

NZPA-AAP Canberra The Australian AttorneyGeneral, Mr Lionel Bowen, has announced plans for new legislation to clarify the circumstances under which foreign Governments may be sued in Australian courts. The Foreign States Immunities Bill would make it clear that the commercial transactions of foreign states and their agencies did not attract immunity, Mr Bowen said. “With the growth of international trade and the involvement of Governments and their agencies in commercial transactions, some of the traditional principles of foreign state immunity are out of step with modern needs,” he said. “This legislation will spell

out to foreign states more precise rules governing their liability to the jurisdiction of Australian courts, and assist the business community in its dealings with foreign Governments,” he said. The bill would adopt a restrictive approach to immunity, and was broadly similar to legislation recently adopted by the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and Singapore. It would implement the Law Reform Commission’s report on the subject and would be introduced as soon as practicable. Mr Bowen said the bill’s provisions would not affect the immunity of diplomats and consuls, which was dealt with under separate legislation.