IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 4: Nuclear security
8 September 2026
Statement delivered by Charlotte East, Alternate Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Thank you, Chair.
Australia welcomes the Director General’s Nuclear Security Report for 2026 and acknowledges the important work undertaken by the Agency under the Director General’s leadership. The Nuclear Security Report 2026 reaffirms the Agency’s central role and long-standing mandate in strengthening nuclear security globally and supporting Member States in maintaining effective and sustainable nuclear security regimes.
Australia notes with appreciation the Agency’s continued implementation of the Nuclear Security Plan 2022-2025, as reflected in the Director General’s report.
Chair,
Australia values the Agency’s work responding to current and evolving nuclear security challenges, including in areas such as artificial intelligence, nuclear forensics, drones, insider threats, and information and computer security. These topics are of increasing importance, to not just Australia but to all Member States. Australia encourages continued international cooperation to ensure nuclear security remains adaptive, forward looking and fit for purpose.
Australia remains firmly committed to strengthening international legal instruments in nuclear security. We recognise the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its Amendment, as foundational to the international nuclear security architecture. We welcome the Agency’s continued efforts to promote universalisation and effective implementation of these instruments. We encourage all States that have not yet done so, to ratify and adhere to them. Australia also notes the Agency’s preparations for the second Conference of the Parties to the Amendment to the CPPNM, scheduled to take place in Vienna in April 2027.
Chair,
Australia also welcomes the Agency’s sustained focus on nuclear security culture, education and training. We value the Agency’s continued delivery of nuclear security training events, e-learning modules and support for regional and international networks. Australia particularly encourages initiatives that strengthen capacity in Asia and the Pacific, including through regional cooperation, training and support such as the August workshop held in Fiji promoting universalisation of the A/CPPNM.
Australia prioritises the development of nuclear security guidance and is an active member in the Nuclear Security Guidance Committee. We welcome the Agency’s continued work to update and strengthen the Nuclear Security Series, including the revision of the top tier guidance documents. We encourage all Member States to engage actively in the development and review of the nuclear security guidance, to ensure it remains practical, current and responsive to all our needs.
Australia appreciates the Agency’s work on information and computer security, including the International Conference on Computer Security in the Nuclear World: Securing the Future. As cyber threats continue to evolve, Australia supports the Agency’s efforts to promote security-by-design, cyber-informed engineering, secure use of emerging technologies, and strengthened international cooperation.
Finally,
Australia commends the Agency’s continued work in nuclear security, including in complex and challenging circumstances.
With these comments, Australia notes the Nuclear Security Report for 2026.
Thank you, Chair.