Annual Report 1998-99 |
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SCOPE OF THE ANNUAL REPORT
The Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) was established in August 1998 to combine the functions of the Australian Safeguards Office (ASO), the Chemical Weapons Convention Office (CWCO) and the Australian Comprehensive Test-Ban Office (ACTBO). This was announced in a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) media release.
The Director General, ASNO, combines the statutory office of Director of Safeguards with the Director, CWCO. The Director General also performs the functions of the Director, 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 44 States specified in the Treaty. Although the Act is not yet in effect, ASNO is already making preparations for the Treaty and related activities are included in this Report.