Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Abetz for his question. Australia's commitment to nuclear weapons nonproliferation is unchanged. We are embarking on a nuclear propulsion program. Australia has clearly and explicitly stated that it will not acquire nuclear weapons. Australia has the strongest non-proliferation and safeguards standards and one of the best nuclear non-proliferation reputations in the world. For the fifth time in succession Australia has ranked first globally on the Nuclear Threat Initiative's 2020 Nuclear Security Index. We ranked first among 24 states for measures against the theft of nuclear material and first of 47 states for measures to prevent the sabotage of nuclear facilities. We will adhere to the highest standards of safeguards, transparency, verification and accountancy. We are committed to fulfilling our obligations as a non-nuclear weapons state and to meeting our non-proliferation obligations, such as the South-Pacific nuclear— (Time expired)