Australia
Australia is a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has signed and ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. It is one of the 44 listed countries needed to sign and ratify the CTBT for it to enter into force.
There are no nuclear power reactors in Australia but it does operate a research reactor at Lucas Heights, Sydney, along with uranium enrichment research via laser technology (see: Silex).
There are three operating uranium mines in Australia:
- Ranger in the Northern Territory (Energy Resources Australia/Rio Tinto mining company)
- Olympic Dam, South Australia (BHP Billiton) and
- Beverley in-situ acid leach mine, South Australia (Heathgate Resources/General Atomics)
In 2006 these mines produced just over 8,900 tonnes of uranium ore and they supply around a quarter of the world's uranium ore requirements.
A fourth, smaller mine in South Australia - Honeymoon - is cleared to start construction and to begin operations in 2009, owned by Canadian company Uranium One.
Australia's uranium, once irradiated in nuclear power reactors, have produced over 86 tonnes of plutonium - enough for about 8,600 nuclear weapons (Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office, 2003-04, Annual Report pdf). Over 160 licences have now been granted to explore for uranium in South Australia alone.
Read the profile on Australia from the Model Nuclear Inventory (pdf), produced by the Reaching Critical Will project of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).
Government policy:
Following the 2007 election, the Labor government's summary Extract on uranium stated they will "Reinvigorate diplomatic efforts towards nuclear disarmament and the responsible use of nuclear technology".
(a) The Australian Government views the US alliance as a fundamental pillar of Australian defence. It is longstanding Defence policy to rely on the extended umbrella of US nuclear forces to provide a comprehensive deterrent to nuclear attack on Australia. There are no US bases in Australia. However, as part of Australia's close alliance with the United States and our joint commitment to maintaining global security, Australia hosts joint facilities including the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap.
(b) The Government understands and respects the longstanding US policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence or absence of nuclear weapons at any specific or general location.
- Questions on Notice to the Australian Defence Minister, 12 Feb, 2008.
