Non Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the centrepiece of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The NPT entered into force in 1970, and Australia ratified the treaty in 1973. The Treaty and the nuclear non-proliferation safeguards system provided through the IAEA make a crucial contribution to regional and international peace and security. The Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) acts as Australia's national safeguards authority, responsible for the performance of Australia's safeguards and non-proliferation obligations and for facilitating IAEA safeguards activities in Australia.
The NPT and the safeguards system have been successful overall in limiting the spread of nuclear weapons. The only states not to have joined the NPT are India, Israel and Pakistan. Successive Australian Governments have taken the view that the Treaty is vital to international stability and security, both globally and in our region.
Article VIII of the NPT provides that the Treaty be reviewed at five-yearly intervals. The primary objectives of Review Conferences are to assess developments since the previous conference, to address current challenges, and to identify areas for further progress. Australia has been an active and constructive participant in all NPT Review Conferences. The next Review Conference will be held in 2010.
North Korea presents a key challenge to the NPT. Following a series of ballistic missile tests on 5 July 2006 and a nuclear test on 9 October 2006, both of which were condemned by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the UNSC unanimously adopted resolutions 1695 and 1718 respectively.
UNSC Resolution 1718 of October 2006 imposes targeted sanctions against North Korea, banning trade in conventional arms with North Korea and the provision of materials or assistance to its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. It also imposes a ban on the supply of specified luxury goods to North Korea, as well as financial and travel sanctions against persons designated by the UN Security Council as supporting North Korea’s programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.
The Australian Government has implemented the United Nations Security Council’s trade and financial sanctions against North Korea into Australian law. All persons either having or considering business dealings in connection with North Korea should make themselves aware of the restrictions that apply to such dealings and seek independent legal advice, if required, before making commercial decisions.
For more information on North Korea, including the Six-Party talks process, see the DPRK country pages.
Iran presents another challenge: the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly confirmed that it is unable to verify whether Iran's nuclear activities are exclusively peaceful. The UNSC has passed four resolutions against Iran: UNSC Resolution 1696, passed on 31 July 2006, made mandatory the suspension of all Iran's enrichment activities; and UNSC Resolutions 1737, UNSCR 1747 and UNSCR 1803.
Together, UNSCR 1737,1747 and 1803 (passed on 23 December 2006, 24 March 2007 and 3 March 2008) prohibit the provision to Iran of a range of goods and technology which could contribute to Iran's nuclear program, or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems, as well as of any assistance, material or financial, related to these goods. The Resolutions also prohibit the procurement from Iran of these proliferation-sensitive goods or of any arms or related materiel and, freeze the financial resources and travel of a range of individuals and entities central to Iran's proliferation sensitive nuclear activities and the development of nuclear weapons delivery systems.
Relevant Australian legislation incorporates the United Nations Security Council's trade and financial sanctions against Iran. All persons having business dealings in connection with Iran should make themselves aware of the restrictions that apply to such dealings.
For more information on Iran, please see the Iran country pages.