Australian e-commerce review - UN Convention on Electronic Communications
United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts 2005
The Australian Government, in consultation with the States and Territories, is considering whether Australia should accede to the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts 2005.
The Convention is directed at facilitating the use of electronic means of communication in the formation or performance of international business contracts between parties in different countries. Implementation of the Convention in Australia would require some amendments to extend and update Australia’s current uniform electronic transactions regime contained in Commonwealth, State and Territory Acts.
Consultation Process
On the 10th of November 2008 the Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, announced the release of a consultation paper seeking public comment on whether Australia should accede to the Convention, and on proposed amendments to allow this to occur. The paper has been prepared in consultation with States and Territories.
The consultation period has now closed. For any enquiries, please contact us by email to ecommerce@ag.gov.au.
Submissions received may be published on the Department’s website. Submittors who do not want their comments published should mark their submissions ‘in-confidence’.
Submissions
- Insurance Council of Australia [PDF 725KB]
- Department of Finance and Administration [PDF 15KB]
- Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism [PDF 28KB]
- Australian Information Industry Association [PDF 66KB]
- Australian Taxation Office [PDF 28KB]
- Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research [PDF 10KB]
- eCommerce Committee of the Law Council [PDF 1MB]
If you have problems downloading these documents please contact the Attorney-General's Department Copyright Law Branch to request a hard copy.
Email: ecommerce@ag.gov.au
