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General Assembly
1 November 2011
Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency
Statement by Mr Steven Ciobo MP
Member of Parliament
of Australia
Mr President
Australia is pleased to have the opportunity to commend Director-General, Mr Yukiya Amano, for his report on the achievements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the challenges it will face over the coming years.
We are honoured to be a member of the IAEA Board of Governors and take very seriously the responsibilities this entails. Australia attaches great importance to the central role played by the IAEA in improving the safety and security of nuclear activities; enlarging the humanitarian contribution of nuclear technology; and verifying states’ non-proliferation commitments.
Mr President
This year, the 25th anniversary year of the Chernobyl accident, we saw the devastating natural disasters in Japan and the subsequent accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Our thoughts continue to be with Japan and its people.
We welcome Director-General Amano’s actions and initiatives regarding nuclear safety in the wake of Fukushima. We are pleased to have been able to participate in the IAEA Ministerial Conference in June and to have contributed to the efforts to improve nuclear safety, and to address public confidence, as reflected in the Ministerial Declaration and subsequently in the Nuclear Safety Action Plan adopted by the IAEA General Conference.
The Action Plan is a strong and practical demonstration of the priority we all attach to achieving the highest possible standards in regard to nuclear safety. We encourage States to be proactive in undertaking the actions outlined in the Plan, and any additional actions that are relevant to their own circumstances.
Mr President
Australia continues to work closely with the Agency and our regional neighbours with regard to nuclear safety and security.
Australia is committed to best international practice in regard to safeguards, safety and security of nuclear material. Signifying this commitment, Australia in collaboration with the IAEA has established an informal Vienna-based contact group for existing and prospective uranium mining countries, with an easy to remember acronym of FoRUM (Friends of Responsible Uranium Mining), as a means of exchanging views and experiences with regard to best practice mining of uranium.
Mr President
Safety measures are not the only elements required to properly protect people and the environment. Australia is also a strong supporter of the Agency’s nuclear security program and its role in international nuclear security initiatives and activities.
Mr President
The IAEA safeguards system is one of the central pillars of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. To be completely effective, the IAEA’s safeguards system must have universal coverage. We continue to call upon all those NPT states which have yet to fulfil their obligations under the Treaty to conclude Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements as well as Additional Protocols, and to do so without delay. Australia has long emphasised the importance of universalisation of the NPT. We encourage those states that have not signed and ratified the Treaty to do so as soon as possible.
States must comply with their safeguards obligations. IAEA safeguards obligations are not voluntary. It is therefore a matter of continuing regret and deep concern that certain states continue to be in breach of their safeguards obligations. We call upon these countries to engage with the Agency to resolve all issues, demonstrate conclusively the peaceful intent of their nuclear program, and comply fully with all of their international obligations. Australia commends the Agency for its continuing efforts to resolve these issues.
Mr President
Australia continues to work closely with the Agency and our regional neighbours on the peaceful applications of nuclear energy. Australia shares its skilled scientific research base with other member states, and facilitates the use and exchange of equipment and personnel in fields relevant to the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. We are pleased to maintain our strong support and contribution to the Agency’s Technical Cooperation program.
I am pleased to recall that in the spirit of the IAEA Peaceful Uses Initiative, Australia contributed A$100,000 to the IAEA for the “Marine Benchmark Study on the Possible Impact of the Fukushima Radioactive Releases in the Asia Pacific Region”. Australia worked closely with our regional neighbours to formulate this project, and acknowledges the role of the IAEA in achieving its prompt initiation, with the first meeting being hosted in Sydney in late August.
Mr President
The Agency plays a vital role in enhancing States’ capabilities to prevent, diagnose and treat health problems through the use of nuclear techniques. We should never lose sight of such humanitarian benefits, which the IAEA is uniquely able to provide worldwide. Australia works closely with the Agency in these areas, and is pleased to coordinate with the IAEA in providing clinical education in radiation medical physics to countries in South-East Asia.
Finally, Mr President,
The external environment in which the Agency operates is highly fluid, and the Agency must maintain the capacity to respond quickly and effectively to external developments, be they related to nuclear safety, physical protection, nuclear proliferation or sustainable development.
Australia will continue to provide the technical, financial and political support for Director-General Amano’s efforts to strengthen the contribution the Agency makes to the promotion of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and to the cause of international peace and security.
Australia is pleased to co-sponsor and support the resolution on the Report of the IAEA.
Thank you.