Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

To be clear, the Director of Safeguards does require a high level of independence, given their responsibility for the regulation of nuclear nonproliferation in Australia. There is no introduction of termination on the grounds of unsatisfactory performance for the director so as to avoid any suggestion of interference in the regulator's independence. The government recognises that this solution best serves the commitment to ensure that there is accountability and integrity and delivery but also the independence of the agency.

You asked me whether there was consultation. As I mentioned before, there was consultation with the Public Service and with ASNO. There was no specific consultation with the international agency that you mentioned, but the specific agency was consulted.