Operation of the national authority for implementation of
the CTBT, including development of CTBT verification systems development of arrangements
in support of Australias CTBT commitments.

Milestone E1

E1.1 Operate effectively as the national point
of liaison with the CTBTOand other
States in relation to the fulfilment of Australias obligations under the CTBT.

E1.2 Facilitation and enhancement of Australias
technical contributions to the work of the Preparatory Commission and its
working groups.

Activities

Practical work on development of
the CTBTs verification system ahead of entry into force has advanced steadily
since 1997. ASNO has established and
continues to develop contacts with the CTBTOs Provisional Technical
Secretariat (PTS) and with Australian government agencies and institutions with
a stake in CTBT activities, especially the development of the International
Monitoring System (IMS). Annex
J lists Australian IMS stations. As the
CTBT and Australias implementing legislationare not yet in force, ASNO does not currently carry out the full
range of anticipated legal functions.

To facilitate the development of
Australian IMS stations, ASNO concluded an arrangement with the CTBTO
Preparatory Commission early in 2000 setting out requirements and procedures
for the establishment, upgrade and operation of IMS stations in Australia. This was brought into force during September
2000 following the completion of domestic implementing arrangements.

The single largest IMS project in
Australia is the hydroacoustic monitoringstation off Cape Leeuwin in Western
Australia. ASNO has worked closely
during the year with the PTS, Western Australian Government agencies, and the
consortium responsible for installation of the station. Key infrastructure for
the station was installed in March 2001, and it should be operational early in
2002.

Work on, and planning for other
Australian IMS stations was usefully advanced during the year, with
radionuclide stations in Melbourne and Perth completed and certified as meeting
CTBT standards. The PTS constructed an
infrasound station at Warramungain the Northern Territory which should be certified before the end
of 2001. Joint PTS-ASNO planning for
new infrasound stations in Western Australia and Tasmania, and new radionuclide
stations in Queensland and the Northern Territory, was well advanced at the end
of the reporting period. Additional
stations (see Table page 93)
are at earlier stages in planning.

ASNO contributed to technical
working group sessions of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission in Vienna during the
year in conjunction with Australias mission in Vienna and with technical specialists from AGSO and
ARPANSA. Key contributions
during 2000-01 dealt with procedures for the conduct of an On-Site Inspection (OSI).
The role of an OSI is to
establish, through activities on the ground, whether a nuclear explosion has
been carried out in violation of the CTBT. OSI procedures will be set out in an operational manual being negotiated
by CTBT signatories.

The development of procedures for
conduct on an OSI is a sensitive element of the work of the CTBTO Preparatory
Commission. This reflects differing
views amongst signatories about what is an appropriate balance between
protecting the legitimate security interests of an inspected state during an
inspection (which may take place in strategically or militarily sensitive
areas), and ensuring an inspection team is able to work effectively to carry
out its task of determining whether a nuclear explosion has taken place.

Performance Assessment

ASNO has met, and addressed, a number of challenges during
2000-01 in the task of facilitating work on the more complex IMS projects in
Australia. At 30 June 2001, three of
Australias 20 IMS stations had been certified as ready to meet CTBT
standardsthe largest number of stations in any CTBT signatory at this stage,
with several more certifications anticipated during 2001-02.

ASNO, along with Australias Vienna mission, contributed to the preparation of an
initial rolling text completed during 2000, and is active in the negotiation of
that text which began in June 2001. ASNO also made a significant contribution to a very successful tabletop exercise in late 2000 which trialed aspects of the OSI
process and explored additional concepts.

Milestone E2

Timely establishment and maintenance of legal and administrative
mechanisms which will give effect to CTBT obligations in Australia.

Activities

Although the Comprehensive
Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Act 1998 received
Royal Assent on 2 July 1998, under section 2 of the Act it will not come into
force before the day the CTBT enters into force, which will occur 180 days
after the Treaty has been ratified by the 44 states listed in its Annex
II. At 30 June 2001, 161 states had
signed the Treaty, of which 77 had deposited instruments of ratification. These included 31 of the named 44.

The Australian Geological Survey
Organisation (AGSO) carries out nuclear test monitoring, using its network of
seismic stations, under contract to DFAT. From 1 July 2000, ASNO has administered that
contract on behalf of the Department, and is negotiating changes with AGSO to
reflect a new operating environment as the IMS is developed pending the CTBT
coming into force.

The CTBTs Global Communications
Infrastructure (GCI) is being established along with the IMS to support data
transmission from monitoring stations worldwide to the International Data
Centre (IDC) in Vienna, and from the IDC to member states. Much of the GCI is operated by a commercial
provider under contract to the CTBTO Preparatory Commission. In some cases, however, data from monitoring
stations are transmitted using nationally operated communications links. Consistent with funding principles in the
CTBT, the cost of operating these national data links will be funded by the
CTBTO. ASNO facilitated the
establishment, in late 2000, of an arrangement through which operating costs
for three AGSO operated auxiliary seismic stations will be met in this way.

Early in 2000 Australia concluded
an arrangement with the Preparatory Commission to facilitate establishment and
operation of IMS stations in Australia. The implementation of that arrangement has required a review of the tax
environment in which the Preparatory Commission and its contractors operate in
Australia. ASNO has undertaken that
review in consultation with Treasury, the Australian Taxation Office and DFAT
stakeholders. As a result of that
review, minor changes to regulations under the Tax Administration Act 1953 are proposed.

Consistent with principles set out in the CTBT, activities associated with
the development of its verification are funded primarily from the contributions
of signatories. This includes trainingof people involved with the work of the Treaty.
ASNO coordinates the involvement of
Australians in this training. During
the year four Australians took part in training for future responsibilities as
station operators, or as inspectors to be deployed should the Treatys On-Site
Inspection provisions be invoked.

Performance Assessment

Management of a number of the issues relevant to this
milestone has to take into consideration the financial consequences for a range
of stakeholders. Thus early resolution
of issues is not usually straightforward. ASNOs efforts have however seen steady progress throughout the
reporting period.

Australia is widely regarded as an active participant in and
contributor to the practical work of preparing for entry-into-force of the CTBT.
Participation in training
activities has presented useful opportunities to strengthen this involvement
and promote Australias interests.