Australia and New Zealand Sign Bilateral Safeguards Agreement

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

AUSTRALIA

Australia and New Zealand today signed a bilateral nuclear
safeguards agreement for the export of uranium oxide to New Zealand.

The Agreement will facilitate the export of small amounts
of uranium oxide, up to 200kg per year, to New Zealand for use
as a colouring agent in the glass-making industry.

Although the planned exports are for a non-nuclear purpose,
Australia's nuclear safeguards policy requires the negotiation
of a bilateral safeguards agreement to ensure all exported uranium
remains in peaceful, non-explosive use.

The Agreement stipulates strict safeguards, verification and
physical protection measures for uranium exports.

The Agreement, which was signed in Canberra, will be tabled
in Federal Parliament later in the year.

There was also an exchange of letters enabling a shipment
of uranium oxide later this year.