That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the final round of formal negotiations for the proposed Australia-United States (US) free trade agreement are being held in Washington, in the week beginning 30 November 2003, and

(ii) both the Australian Government and the US Government have indicated that they are seeking to conclude this agreement before Christmas 2003;

(b) notes further that:

(i) the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee tabled the report Votingontrade:TheGeneralAgreementonTradeinServicesandanAustralia-USfreetradeagreement on 27 November 2003, and

(ii) a key recommendation of this report was that Parliament should have a greater role in developing and voting on major international trade agree-ments; and

(c) calls on the Government to recall Parliament once the negotiations have concluded, to scrutinise and debate the finalised text of the proposed Australia-US free trade agreement and vote on whether or not it should be signed.