Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO), Chemical Weapons Convention Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
Country
Australia
Organization Type
National organization
Description
Oversees Australia’s compliance with the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). ASNO is headed by a Director General and is organized into five main sections: CWC Implementation, CTBT Implementation, Nuclear Accountancy and Control, International Safeguards and Safeguards Adviser, as well as a Support Unit.
CTBT: ASNO coordinates Australia's preparations for entry into force of the CTBT. The focus of this work is the establishment of 20 monitoring stations and one laboratory as part of the CTBT's International Monitoring System (IMS) in Australia.
NPT: ASNO is the national authority for implementing nuclear safeguards, including the provisions of Article III of the NPT. Nuclear safeguards are designed to prevent the diversion of nuclear material and/or facilities from peaceful uses to weapons purposes. National safeguards authorities are responsible for applying safeguards agreements that states conclude with the IAEA, including Additional Protocols where these have been agreed. The common terms of the agreements include placing nuclear material under safeguards, declaring and regularly reporting nuclear inventories and activities to the IAEA and facilitating IAEA inspections to verify that states parties are meeting their safeguards obligations. ASNO is also responsible for the operation of the 18 bilateral safeguards agreements that Australia has agreed with those countries to which it exports uranium, exclusively for peaceful purposes.
CWC: ASNO is the focal point for liaison between stakeholders, such as operators of facilities regulated under the CWC, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and the National Authorities of other member countries, on issues relating to implementation of the convention. Its primary role is to ensure that Australia fulfils its international obligations under the CWC while protecting the rights of regulated companies and facility operators. This includes preparation and submission of declarations to the OPCW and facilitation of inspections.
Activity
Chemical weapons
Nuclear weapons
-Nuclear safeguards
-Nuclear testing
Verification research
Address
R.G. Casey Building
John McEwen Crescent
Barton, ACT 0221
Australia
