Submission to the Australian Government Joint Standing Committee on Treaties’ Inquiry into WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge

As the Australian Government considers ratification of the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge, it is important to examine how the Treaty should be implemented in the Australian jurisdiction. Critical to such implementation would be subsequent legislative reform reflecting the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation to the Convention on Biological Diversity and UNDRIP.

The WIPO Treaty represents a small but positive step towards recognition of Indigenous Peoples Traditional Environmental Knowledge and ICIP. Like other progressive steps being made at international law, it will require implementation through positive legislative reform to provide any tangible outcomes for Traditional Owners.