IAEA Board of Governors Meeting
Statement by Mr Jarrod Powell, Alternate Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Agenda Item 6: Nuclear Security
September 2020
Australia welcomes the Director General’s Nuclear Security Report and thanks Deputy Director General Lentijo for his introductory remarks. We also thank the Secretariat for its efforts to continue strengthening the global nuclear security framework and coordinate international nuclear security activities in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Australia is a strong supporter of the Agency’s efforts to assist Member States in enhancing nuclear security, having contributed AUD 1.45 million to the Nuclear Security Fund since 2013.
We have demonstrated our commitment to eliminating unnecessary nuclear security and proliferation risks through the complete elimination of highly enriched uranium from our nuclear medicine supply chain. We welcome the fact that other major producers have chosen to do likewise in recent years, proving HEU-free production both technically and economically feasible.
We urge all nuclear medicine producers to eliminate HEU from both current and future production.
Australia congratulates the Secretariat and fellow Member States on a successful International Conference on Nuclear Security 2020, which was notable for the very high level of participation and engagement. As we look ahead, the outcomes of ICONS 2020 will be useful to us as we work together to develop the next IAEA Nuclear Security Plan.
Australia also congratulates the Secretariat on the 25th anniversary of the IAEA Incident and Trafficking Database. Since 1995, the ITDB has shared over 3700 incidents of nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control. Australia appreciates the contribution of the 140 participating States and looks forward to many more years of cooperation in combatting illicit nuclear trafficking and strengthening global nuclear security.
We look forward to the 2021 Conference of the Parties to the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and thank the Secretariat for its support in facilitating the conference process. We encourage all Parties to participate fully in the 2021 Conference process, and we urge Member States that have not yet done so to ratify, accept or approve the amended CPPNM.
Thank you