Foreign Affairs Minister

Julie Bishop

Helping secure the Indo-Pacific against nuclear terrorism

26 March 2014

During my attendance at the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague I announced  Australia will contribute A$1 million to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s  (IAEA’s) Nuclear Security Fund (NSF).

This contribution will be used to support the IAEA’s activities in the Indo-Pacific  region, including assisting regional partners to establish effective and sustainable  national nuclear security regimes, strengthening nuclear security cooperation  through regional and bilateral programs and assisting states to adhere to relevant  international nuclear security agreements.

Australia has a proud record of achievement in promoting and strengthening global  nuclear security and in enhancing international nuclear non-proliferation and  disarmament regimes.

Australia has been twice rated first in the Nuclear Threat Initiative’s assessment of  nuclear security in countries with significant holdings of nuclear material.

I will continue to promote Australia’s nuclear security, non-proliferation and  disarmament objectives, when I participate in the next Non-Proliferation and  Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) ministerial meeting in Hiroshima in April. The 12  member cross-regional initiative, established by Australia and Japan, seeks to  achieve substantive progress in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Details of the Nuclear Security Summit can be found at www.nss2014.com/en  Information about the NPDI can be found at www.dfat.gov.au/security/npdi.html

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