Australia and the Security Council

Australia played an important role in drafting the articles of the UN Charter that deal with the Security Council. We argued against allowing permanent members a veto power.

Australia held the first Presidency of the Security Council in 1946 and provided the first military personnel as peacekeepers under UN auspices a year later, to Indonesia.

Since we last served on the UN Security Council in 1985-86, Australia has further developed its expertise in preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and disarmament. We look forward to the opportunity to share this expertise with members of the Security Council.

We are a reliable contributor to the UN's peacekeeping budget, always paying in full and on time.

We are active in international dialogues about the protection of civilians and the role of peacekeepers in conflict zones. Having led regional responses to restore order, Australia stands ready to work with the UN and other member states to apply the lessons learned to manage conflicts and help build stable and prosperous societies.

Australia supports reform of the Security Council and its working methods to better reflect the modern world and ensure it is accessible to small and middle-sized countries. We pressed for transparency during our last term on the Security Council and we continue to advocate for greater transparency of, and accessibility to, its deliberations.

Australia has much to contribute to the Security Council. We bring creativity, energy and a practical problem-solving ethos.