Output 1.7: Other Non-Proliferation Regimes

Contribution to the development and strengthening of other weapons of mass destruction non-proliferation regimes.

Performance Measures

• Provide support and assistance to Australia's Permanent Mission to the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva in their efforts to advance Australia's non-proliferation and disarmament objectives, in particular on seeking to commence the negotiation of an internationally verifiable Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT).
• Contribute to technical developments in the field of nuclear disarmament relevant to Australia's interests, in particular through the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification.
• Support other developments in the field of non-proliferation and disarmament that are relevant to Australia's interests.

Performance Assessment

ASNO contributes routinely to Australia's efforts to strengthen international non-proliferation efforts by participating in a range of forums or by providing advice and input for briefing and papers prepared by DFAT, such as papers Australia co-authors with like-minded countries to help shape and influence multilateral processes.

Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty

A ban on the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons has long been considered a companion to the CTBT in that it would work to impose a cap on the size of nuclear arsenals. As an effective, verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) has the potential to deliver substantial benefits for the security of all states, furthering the twin goals of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. The term 'fissile material' refers to kinds of nuclear material that are capable of being used in a nuclear weapon.

While there remain significant challenges before such negotiations can commence, a FMCT remains a next logical step in progressing global nuclear disarmament, and continues to be one of Australia's priority nuclear disarmament objectives. ASNO continued during the year to provide expert support for Australia's efforts to build confidence and momentum in the Conference on Disarmament (CD) towards the commencement of negotiations on an FMCT.

International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV)

Future steps in nuclear disarmament will pose significant verification challenges. Success in addressing these future challenges will require the development and application of new technologies or concepts, and all states have an interest in the success of these efforts. ASNO alongside DFAT and ANSTO continue Australia's active contribution to the IPNDV's work.

In 2019, IPNDV completed its second two-year work phase with publication at www.ipndv.org of reports addressing verification of nuclear weapon declarations, verification of reductions, and technologies for verification. The current third work-phase aims to build on this work through practical exercises, including scenario-based discussions and technology demonstrations to examine how concepts and other elements of a verification "tool-kit" can be implemented. ASNO's former Director General Dr Robert Floyd and Malcolm Coxhead co-chaired the task group examining issues from the perspective of future inspectors. Other task groups examined the perspectives of an inspected state and focus on technology issues.

Although physical meetings of IPNDV partner countries paused due to COVID-related restrictions, virtual meetings continued. Two virtual exercises were conducted. One in December 2020 explored similarities and differences in perspectives between inspectors and hosts during verification of the dismantlement of 500 warheads under a fictional nuclear weapons reduction treaty. A second exercise in June 2021, simulated the verification and monitoring of the removal, and subsequent placement in storage, of a warhead from its road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile.