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News Release

Laurie Brereton, MP

Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs

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10/00

30 January 2000

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NON-PROLIFERATION SAFEGUARDS AT RISK OF COMPROMISE

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The Shadow Minister 
for Foreign Affairs, Laurie Brereton, today called on the Howard Government 
to address i n this year's budget the critical shortfall in resources 
available to the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office 
(ASNO).

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"The serious 
disparity arising from a greatly increased workload and inadequate staffing 
risks compromise of ASNO's implem entation of Australia's non-proliferation 
safeguards and contributions to the strengthening of international measures 
to prevent proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons", 
Mr Brereton said.Â

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"ASNO plays 
a critical role in Australia's eff orts to help the international 
community combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction -- 
weapons which pose grave threats to humanity.Â  Notwithstanding 
its vital work, ASNO has not received the resouces necessary for it 
to operate to its full potential.Â  Indeed it lacks the critical 
mass necessary to remain viable in the medium to long term."Â

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A responsibility 
of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, ASNO is a specialised agency responsible 
for Australia's national system of accounting for nuclear  material 
subject to International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, and ensuring 
Australia's uranium exports are used exclusively for peaceful purposes 
in accordance with Australia's bilateral safeguards agreements.Â

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In recent years, 
ASNO's responsibiliti es have expanded significantly to include 
implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Comprehensive 
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.Â  ASNO also makes important contributions 
to Australia's support for negotiation of a verification protocol for 
the Biological Weapons Convention and the proposed fissile material 
cut-off treaty.Â

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"ASNO's responsibilities 
will grow further in what is an increasingly challenging non-proliferation 
environment", Mr Brereton said.Â  "Yet ASNO remains extremely 
modest in size  with only twelve staff at 30 June 1999."Â

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The seriousness 
of this resource shortfall was highlighted in the most recent annual 
report by ASNO's Director-General, John Carlson:Â

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'An area requiring 
ongoing attention is the maintenance of ASNO's funding  at a level 
to ensure viability.Â  In 1989 the Australian Safeguards Office 
was subject to external review, which concluded that the then staffing 
level of 14 was a minimum for the effective performance of its nuclear 
responsibilities.Â  In the subsequent ten years there has been a 
process of continual attrition, due to failure to establish a satisfactory 
initial base, the cumulative effects of the 'efficiency dividend', and 
the impact of general Public Service cut-backs.Â  Over the same 
period there has been a substantial increase in workload, with the increasing 
quantity of nuclear material covered by Australia's network of bilateral 
[safeguards] agreements and the increasing complexity of international 
issues and developments. … the present staffing level cannot be considered 
viable in the medium term'.Â

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"If Australia 
is to play an active and effective role combating the proliferation 
of weapons of mass destruction, we must invest adequate resources to 
ensure the retention and development of relevant technic al expertise", 
Mr Brereton said.Â  "We must also invest further in research 
and development of new verification technologies."

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"A failure 
to quickly address these critical resource issues will inevitably erode 
Australia's ability to pursue our non-prolifer ation objectives 
and damage our national security."Â

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"Foreign 
Minister Downer must ensure that his portfolio is adequately resourced 
to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive and complex international 
environment.Â  He should start by ensuring th at this year's 
budget guarantees ASNO a resource base commensurate with its vital responsibilities."Â

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

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jyÂ  2000-02-01Â  16:14

