The Australian government has introduced a bill into Parliament to implement the obligations accepted under the GATT TRIPS agreement and in particular to extend the term of patents whose current 16-year term would end on or after July 1, 1995 to a period of 20 years. Such an extension will, however, be subject to compulsory licensing to anyone who has before October 1, 1994 made a substantial investment with a view to using an invention after the end of the expected 16-year term or where a current license would expire at the end of the 16-year term.