Annual Report 2000-2001

Freedom of Information Act 1982
Section 8 Statement

This statement is published in order to meet the requirements of section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 which commenced operation on 1 December 1982.

Section 8 requires Departments and prescribed agencies to publish statements about their organisation, functions, decision-making powers, consultative arrangements, categories of documents maintained and facilities and procedures to enable members of the public to obtain access to documents under the Act. Departments and agencies must publish updated statements annually.

Information about the organisation and functions, decision-making powers and consultative arrangements of ASNO is found in earlier parts of this Annual Report. This statement provides additional details (where appropriate) of consultative arrangements and categories and availability of documents maintained by ASNO. The Report describes the Office as it existed in 2000-01 within the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio.

Documents are listed under three main headings: agreements; legislationand related documents; and other. All agreements/treaties are available from the Australian Treaty Series from Australian Government Bookshops. Treaty documents are also available from the ASNO website http://www.asno.dfat.gov.au.

All Acts and Regulations are available from the Australian Government Bookshops and some legislation is available from the Internet sites:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act

http://scaleplus.law.gov.au

Except where indicated, none of the documents under other is available for a fee or for purchase by the public nor are they customarily made available free of charge.

Applications for release of documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 should be addressed to the Director General, Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office.

Arrangements for outside participation

ASNO liaises with Federal, State and Territory government departments and authorities, authorities in countries with which Australia has bilateral nuclear safeguards agreements, the IAEA, the OPCW, the Provisional Technical Secretariat of the CTBTO, and the private sector.

Participation in policy formation and administration of enactments and regulations can be undertaken by making representations in writing, including suggestions, complaints and comments, to the Director General, Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office or to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

General and media enquires relating to ASNO activities and responsibilities should be directed to the Director General, Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Officetelephone number: (02) 6261 1920.

Categories of Documents Held by ASNO

Agreements

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. (This Treaty is reproduced as Schedule 2 to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987).
Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. (This Convention is reproduced as Schedule 4 to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987).
Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction. (The Convention is reproduced as the Schedule to the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1994.)
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. (The Treaty is reproduced as a Schedule to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Act 1998.)
Agreement between Australia and the IAEA for the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, covering nuclear material within Australia under NPT safeguards. (This Agreement is reproduced as Schedule 3 to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987.)
Protocol additional to the Agreement between Australia and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Canada concerning the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, covering transfers between Australia and Canada of nuclear material, material, equipment and technology.
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the European Atomic Energy Community concerning transfers of nuclear material from Australia to the European Atomic Energy Community, covering transfers of nuclear material from Australia to Member States of the Community.
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt concerning cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and the Transfer of Nuclear Material between Australia and Egypt.
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Finland concerning the Transfer of Nuclear Material between Australia and Finland, covering transfers of nuclear material between Australia and Finland.
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the French Republic concerning Nuclear Transfer between Australia and France, covering transfers of nuclear material, material, equipment and technology between Australia and France.
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Japan for Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, covering transfers of nuclear material, material, equipment and sensitive technology between Australia and Japan.
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Republic of Korea concerning Co-operation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and the Transfer of Nuclear Material, covering transfers of nuclear material between Australia and Republic of Korea.
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand concerning transfer of Uranium.
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines concerning Co-operation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and the Transfer of Nuclear Material, covering transfers of nuclear material between Australian and the Philippines.
Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between Australia and the Republic of Singapore concerning Cooperation on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials.
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Sweden on Conditions and Controls of Nuclear Transfers for Peaceful Purposes between Australia and Sweden, covering transfers of nuclear material, material, equipment and technology.
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Swiss Confederation concerning the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, covering transfers of nuclear material, material, equipment and technology between Australia and Switzerland.
Agreement between the Government of Australia and Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning Nuclear Transfers between Australia and United Kingdom, covering transfers of nuclear material, material, equipment and technology between Australia and the United Kingdom.
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United Mexican States concerning Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and the transfer of nuclear material.
Agreement between Australia and the United States of America concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, covering transfers of nuclear material, moderator material, equipment and components and information.
Agreement for Cooperation between Australia and the United States of America concerning Technology for the Separation of Isotopes of Uranium by Laser Excitation, Agreed Minute, and Exchange of Notes.
Agreement between Australia and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics concerning the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (this Agreement is now with the Russian Federation).

Legislation and Related Documents

Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1994.
Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Regulations, Statutory Rules 1997 No. 84.
Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Amendment Act 1998.
Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Amendment Regulations 1998.
Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Act 1998.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) (Consequential Amendments) Act 1988.
Declaration under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987 regarding associated equipment and associated material, dated 31 March 1987 (available from ASNO).
Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Regulations, Statutory Rules 1987 No. 75.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Regulations (Amendment), Statutory Rules 1987 No. 258.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Regulations (Amendment), Statutory Rules 1987 No. 260.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Regulations (Amendment), Statutory Rules 1990 No. 298.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Regulations (Amendment), Statutory Rules 1993 No. 178.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Regulations (Amendment), Statutory Rules 1997 No. 351.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Regulations (Amendment), Statutory Rules 1998 No. 173.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Regulations (Amendment), Statutory Rules 1998 No. 318.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Amendment Regulations 2000 (No.1), Statutory Rules 2000 No.22
Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Amendment Regulations 2000 (No.2), Statutory Rules 2000 No.69
Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Amendment Regulations 2000 (No.3), Statutory Rules 2000 No.305
Nuclear Safeguards (Producers of Uranium Ore Concentrates) Charge Act 1993.
South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty Act 1986.

Other

The Annual Report of the Director of Safeguards, Director, CWCO and Director, ACTBO are included in the ASNO Annual Report (available from ASNO).
Papers prepared in whole or in part by ASNO officers for presentation at conferences and meetings. Papers which are in the public domain are listed in Annex K to this Report.
Technical and other reports, extracts from published literature and publications (including newspaper, newsletter and journal clippings), representations and other general correspondence, discussion papers, position papers, briefings to the Minister and senior officers, extracts from Parliamentary debates, questions and answers associated with nuclear safeguards issues. Working papers and files related to ASNOs safeguards, CWC and CTBT responsibilities.
Minutes and working documents of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).
Industry information booklets and leaflets on the CWC (available from ASNO).
Survey forms completed and returned by Australian companies and organisations relating to the applicability of the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1994. Information in forms has been provided on a Commercial-in-Confidence basis.
A copy of Executive Council papers related to proclamation of Division 1 of Part 7; and sections 95, 96, 97, 99, 102, 103, and 104 of the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1994.
Documents related to the designation of the office of Director of Safeguards as the office whose occupant is the Director of the Chemical Weapons Convention Office, and to the designation of the Controller of Permits and Notifications under the Act.
Minutes and working documents of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and of its Preparatory Commission.
A register of the permits and notifications issued pursuant to the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1994.
Copies of forms approved by the Director for use pursuant to provisions of the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1994 (available from ASNO).
Administrative Arrangements pursuant to the above Agreements. The Administrative Arrangements are not available for public viewing as they have been agreed as being confidential between the Parties to the Agreements.
Administrative Security Arrangements pursuant to the Silex Agreement.
Joint Australian-United States Classification Guide for Enrichment of Uranium by the SILEX Process
Arrangement between the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office and the US Department of Energy Concerning Research and Development in Nuclear Material Control, Accountancy, Verification, Physical Protection, and Advanced Containment and Surveillance technologies for International Safeguards.
Arrangement between the Government of Australia and the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization on the conduct of activities including post-certification activities, relating to international monitoring facilities for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty.
A register of permits and authorities which are issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs or the Ministers delegate pursuant to sections 13, 16 or 18 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987.
A Nuclear Materials Accountancy and Control Procedures Manual.
A Users Manual for the Numbat 3 Nuclear Materials Accountancy and Control Software.
Delegations to the Director of Safeguards to exercise powers under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987.
Documents relating to the declaration under section 57 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987 of persons as inspectors for the purposes of that Act. List of persons so declared.

Agendas, minutes and working documents of the IAEA, mostly concerned with the activities of its Department of Safeguards.

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