This statement is provided in accordance with section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). The following section 8 statement covers the period for 1 July 2010 to 30 April 2011 inclusive.

The FOI Act extends the right to obtain access to documents in the Government's possession. Access is limited only by exemptions that, for example, protect essential public interests and the private and business affairs of people about whom departments and statutory authorities collect and hold information.

Members of the public seeking access to documents should lodge a formal FOI request. This must be made in writing and include a contact name, address to which notifications can be sent, telephone number and fax number (if available). All enquiries should be directed to:

Director

Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section

Domestic Legal Branch

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

R.G. Casey Building, John McEwen Crescent

BARTON, ACT 0221

E-mail: foi@dfat.gov.au

From 1 May 2011 agencies subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) are required to publish information to the public as part of the Information Publication Scheme (IPS). This requirement, given in Part II of the FOI Act has replaced the former requirement to publish a section 8 statement in an annual report. An agency plan showing what information is published in accordance with IPS requirements is accessible from /foi/ips.html

Documents

ASNO produces a wide range of documents in administering its responsibilities including:

• Submissions to the portfolio minister, Cabinet, the Director General ASNO and other government agencies
• Records of parliamentary related business such as responses to parliamentary questions on notice, briefings for parliamentary delegations and parliamentarians, possible parliamentary questions, written submissions to parliamentary committees and responses to questions from parliamentary committee inquiries
• Records of technical and other reports, literature, media reports and journals relevant to ASNO's responsibilities
• Replies to ministerial and departmental correspondence
• Papers prepared in whole or in part by ASNO officers for presentation at conferences and meetings
• Texts of speeches and press statements on issues related to ASNO's responsibilities
• Briefs, reports and documents on international and Australian aspects of policy relevant to ASNO's safeguards, CWC and CTBT responsibilities
• Annual Reports
• Treaties, memoranda of understanding and other agreements between the Australian Government and other governments
• Documents relating to program and financial management, contracts and tenders
• Reviews, evaluations and audit reports on management systems, controls and the efficiency and effectiveness of development programs and activities
• Minutes and working documents of the working groups, committees and organisations to which ASNO is party
• Guidelines, policies and procedures relating to strategies and corporate planning, project planning and implementation, including risk assessment and fraud prevention
• Materials relating to staff development, training, personnel management and general administration
• Customer feedback surveys.

Publications, Presentations and Submissions

ASNO produced a range of publications and conducted various presentations to increase community awareness and understanding of ASNO responsibilities and issues for which it has expertise. ASNO also made a number of submissions to Parliamentary and other inquiries. These include:

• Stephan Bayer, Regulation of nuclear material and associated items under the Safeguards Act, Presentation to ARPANSA staff 26th July 2010.
• John Carlson, Strengthening Safeguards through Regional Cooperation: Establishment of the Asia-Pacific Safeguards Network, Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 11–15 July 2010.
• Russell Leslie, Craig Everton and John Carlson, Revisiting the Practices and Technical Objective of Safeguards, Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 11–15 July 2010.
• Craig Everton, Stephan Bayer and John Carlson, Developments in the IAEA's Nuclear Security Series and Physical Protection Guidance Document INFCIRC/225, Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 11–15 July 2010.
• John Carlson, Strengthening the NPT and IAEA Safeguards: Recommendations of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 11–15 July 2010.
• Stephan Bayer, Nuclear Terrorism Threats, presentation made at the meeting of the National Counter Terrorism Committee CBRN Subcommittee Secretariat, 31 August 2010.
• Craig Everton, Initiatives and Technologies for Next Generation Safeguards - Australian Experiences and Perspectives, 6th International Workshop on Nuclear Energy and Non-Proliferation in East and Southeast Asia, Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, 27–29 October 2010.
• Robert Floyd, WMD: Challenges for Australia's national interests and security, National Security College - Australian National University, 5 May 2011.
• Craig Everton, Russell Leslie, Stephan Bayer and Michael East, Transparency and other State-Specific Factors: Exploration of Ideas for Evolving the IAEA's System of State-Evaluations and Safeguards Implementation, 33rd ESARDA Annual Meeting, Symposium on Safeguards and Nuclear Material Management, Budapest, Hungary, 16–20 May 2011.
• Robert Floyd, Australian Uranium Export Policy, presented at The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy International Uranium Conference 2011, Perth, 8–9 June 2011.
• Michael East and Stephan Bayer, IAEA Safeguards Verification at Uranium Mines, presented at The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy International Uranium Conference 2011, Perth, 8–9 June 2011.

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