

NEWS RELEASE

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LAURIE BRERETON MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

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143/99Â

11 November 1999

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HOWARD GOVERNMENT FAILS ON NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

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The Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Laurie Brereton, today condemned 
the Howard Government’s failure to  support the New Agenda Resolution 
on Nuclear Disarmament adopted by the First Committee of the UN General 
Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

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‘The Howard Government’s decision to abstain on 
the New Agenda Resolution confirms the abandonment of Australia’s 
previous leadership role on nuclear disarmament issues”, Mr Brereton 
said.

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“Four years ago, Australia led the world in establishing 
the Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. The Commission’s 
report made a critical contribution to arguments for both the desirability 
and feasibility of the absolute elimination, not just reduction, of 
the world’s nuclear weapons. Despite this the Howard Government made 
only token efforts to promote the work of the Commission before abandoning 
any advocacy of efforts to achieve a nuclear weapon free world.”

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“Last year a group of middle powers - including 
Ireland, Brazil, Sweden, Egypt, South Africa and New Zealand, but conspicuously 
not Australia - launched a major international initiative based explicitly 
on the work of the Canberra Commission.”

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‘That work led to the adoption last year and again 
on 9 November this year of a UN Resolution, the centrepiece of which 
is a call upon the Nuclear Weapon States to give an unequivocal undertaking 
to accomplish the elimination of their nuclear arsenals, and to engage 
in an accelerated process of negotiations to fulfil their obligation 
under Article VI of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to achieve nuclear 
disarmament.”

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‘This year’s New Agenda Resolution was adopted 
the First Committee of the General Assembly by 90 to 13 with 37 abstentions 
including Australia. Australia also abstained in 1998.”

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“Other elements of the Resolution include calls 
for the United States and Russia to bring the START II Treaty into force 
without further delay, the integration of all Nuclear Weapon States 
into the disarmament process, the strengthening of International Atomic 
Energy Agency safeguards, immediate and unconditional ratification of 
the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and negotiation of a treaty banning 
production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.”

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‘These are measures which have enjoyed the strong 
support of successive Australian Governments. It is extraordinary that 
the Howard Government has again refused to join New Zealand, which introduced 
this year’s Resolution, and its other supporters including Ireland, 
South Africa, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico and Sweden.”

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“Last month Australia’s nuclear disarmament diplomacy 
suffered a severe blow with United States Senate’s decision to vote 
down US ratification of the CTBT. It is essential that a major international 
effort be made to rebuild momentum for nuclear disarmament.”

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‘This is a time when Australia should be giving 
leadership. Australia’s abstention on the New Agenda Resolution sends 
precisely the wrong signal and confirms the absence of any vision in 
the Howard Government’s approach.”

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Contact:Â Philip Dorling 02 6277 4717 or 0416 203 058

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rwÂ  1999-11-15Â  10:56

