The position of Director General, Australian
Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO), combines the
statutory office of Director of Safeguards with that of Director, Chemical
Weapons Convention Office (CWCO). The
Director General also performs the functions of the Director, Australian
Comprehensive Test-Ban Office (ACTBO) on an informal basis,
as the relevant legislation has not yet come into
effect.

This report covers the activities of ASNO and is prepared
pursuant to the requirements of section 51 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987
and section 96 of the Chemical Weapons
(Prohibition) Act 1994.

Section 71 of the Comprehensive
Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Act 1998 also
requires preparation of an annual report. That Act will have effect at entry into force of the CTBT following
ratification by the 44 states specified in
the Treaty. Although the Treaty, and
therefore the Act, are not yet in effect, the Treaty is being applied
provisionally by the States Signatories, and ASNOs activities in this regard
are included in this Report.