IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 11: Any other business (AUKUS Partners’ Update)
10 September 2026
Statement delivered by Ms Charlotte East, Alternate Representative of Australia to the IAEA on behalf of AUKUS partners
Chair
I have the honour of speaking on behalf of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to provide an update to the Board of Governors on Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion program. Consultations between Australia and the IAEA on the safeguards and verification approach for Australia’s program, including an arrangement under Article 14 of Australia’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, remain ongoing. Topics under discussion include, among other things:
- technical aspects and modalities to facilitate possible IAEA verification and monitoring activities at locations in Australia supporting Australia’s NNP program;
- as well as implementation of safeguards by design.
Further discussions with the Agency covering these topics took place in July 2026.
As indicated by the Director General’s regular reporting to this Board, Australia has continued to fulfil all reporting requirements under its CSA, Additional Protocol and Subsidiary Arrangements. The IAEA has continued to conduct verification activities in relation to Australia’s NNP program, within the framework of Australia’s safeguards agreements. These activities have included complementary access and the collection of environmental samples at relevant locations.
AUKUS partners reiterate our commitment to ensuring that the safeguards and verification approach for Australia’s program sets the highest non-proliferation standard and enables the IAEA to continue to fulfil its technical objectives for Australia at all stages of the submarines’ lifecycle. The IAEA will be able to confirm that there has been no diversion of declared nuclear material; no misuse of declared nuclear facilities; and no undeclared nuclear material or activities in Australia.
We underline that all activities will continue to be carried out in a manner fully consistent with AUKUS partners’ respective non-proliferation and safeguards obligations, including under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga and its Protocols, and Australia’s safeguards agreements with the IAEA. Australia will continue to engage with the IAEA in line with our ongoing commitment to transparency.
Once the Article 14 Arrangement is finalised, the Director General will transmit it to the Board of Governors for appropriate action. AUKUS partners fully support this approach.
Chair
AUKUS partners continue to work together to build the capabilities, skills and knowledge that will underpin Australia’s ability to safely and securely operate and maintain its future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines., which will replace its current fleet of six diesel-electric submarines. We remain committed to keeping the Board informed of relevant programmatic developments.
In line with the Optimal Pathway announced in March 2023, Australian military and civilian personnel continue to be embedded with the UK Royal Navy, the US Navy, and with UK and US industry. Australian personnel will also continue to participate in maintenance activities on US and UK submarines at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. As outlined in our previous updates, the UK Submarine Maintenance Period took place March 2026, following earlier maintenance activities on US submarines in 2024 and 2025. As we have previously advised the Board, US and UK submarines will establish a rotational presence at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia from 2027, which we call SRF-West. This initiative builds on previous visits to HMAS Stirling over decades, and will further support the development of Australia’s ability to own, operate, sustain, and safely steward our future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s.
Preparations for SRF-West are underway, with US personnel arriving in Western Australia as part of the establishment of the Lead Maintenance Activity to support the maintenance of US submarines assigned to SRF-West and provide ongoing valuable training to Australia’s workforce.
Work is also continuing to support the design and delivery of the future Nuclear-Powered Submarine Construction Yard at Osborne, South Australia, as well as the defence precinct at Henderson, Western Australia, which will provide contingency docking and depot-level maintenance capabilities for Australia’s future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. On 24 August, Australia announced the layout for the Defence Precinct at Henderson, including for sustainment of Australia’s future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. The Osborne and Henderson locations, which will provide constructive and maintenance capabilities respectively, will be established in accordance with domestic processes and regulatory requirements, fully consistent with Australia’s international obligations.
Australia continues to be committed to ensuring that its naval nuclear propulsion program upholds the highest standards of nuclear safety. The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator, established last year, administers a strong regulatory framework, drawing on more than 70 years of safe nuclear propulsion practices in the US and UK, tailored to Australia’s operating environment.
Chair,
AUKUS partners remain fully committed to transparency and welcome opportunities to address genuine questions regarding Australia’s program. We will continue to share updates at future Board meetings and in other fora, as appropriate.
Thank you, Chair.