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.
Interested parties are invited to download the consultation paper from this webpage and provide submissions via email to ecommerce@ag.gov.au by 30 January 2009. Alternatively, submissions may be forwarded to:
Ms Helen Daniels
Assistant Secretary
Copyright Law Branch
Attorney-General's Department
Robert Garran Offices
National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
Submissions received may be published on the Department’s website. Submittors who do not want their comments published should mark their submissions ‘in-confidence’.
