The Senate-
(a) recalls its resolution of 29 June 2000 concerning nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and notes the response by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Downer) of 22 August 2000;
(b) affirms that Australia must always be prepared to make its own independent judgements on strategic issues and its national security interests;
(c) considers the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile delivery systems to be a most serious international security issue;
(d) notes:
(i) the declared intention of the United States Government to proceed with the development and deployment of a National Missile Defence system, and
(ii) that countries including Canada, Germany and France have expressed strong concerns about the potential adverse implications of NMD, and that Russia and China have expressed strong opposition to the proposed deployment of NMD;
(e) noting that China has warned it will respond to NMD by increasing its strategic nuclear missile forces, expresses its concern that NMD may trigger a major nuclear build-up in the Asia-Pacific region;
(f) recalls Australia's longstanding support for the integrity of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty as a keystone for nuclear arms control and disarmament;
(g) considers that sustained multilateral cooperation is fundamental to combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
(h) expresses concern that NMD is likely to be counter-productive, with the potential to undermine non-proliferation cooperation and derail world progress towards nuclear disarmament;
(i) deplores the Australian Government's support for the development and deployment of NMD;
(j) affirms that Australia should not support, or be involved in, NMD research, development or trials; and
(k) calls on the Australian Government:
(i) to review any such involvement in NMD through the satellite relay ground station at Pine Gap or other arrangements, and
(ii) to energetically support cooperative efforts to combat ballistic missile proliferation, including strengthening the missile technology control regime, pursuing a multilateral ballistic missile and space vehicle launch notification regime, urging the de-alerting of nuclear missile forces to reduce the risk of an accidental or unauthorised nuclear weapons launch and encouraging further negotiated deep cuts in existing nuclear arsenals.
Source: Lausrie Brereton
LAURIE BRERETON MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
· NEWS RELEASE · NEWS RELEASE · NEWS RELEASE ·
12/01 1 March 2001
SENATE MOTION ON MISSILE DEFENCE
The Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Laurie Brereton, today welcomed the adoption by the Senate of a Labor motion expressing opposition to the proposed development and deployment of a United States National Missile Defence system.
"Today's Senate motion moved by my colleague Senator Cook reaffirms the policy position adopted at Labor's National Conference in August last year", Mr Brereton said.
"Labor considers NMD to be a disproportionate, counterproductive and technically questionable response to the problem of ballistic missile proliferation. It has the potential to undermine international security cooperation and derail progress towards disarmament. NMD may well fuel a new nuclear arms race in the Asia-Pacific region and could spark competition in the deployment of anti-satellite and other weaponry in space."
"Meanwhile 'rogue states' and terrorists will continue to pose threats with weapons of mass destruction delivered by clandestine means."
"Australia must always be prepared to make its own independent judgements on strategic issues and its national security interests."
"Labor first highlighted the adverse implications of NMD in March last year. In stark contrast, the Howard Government has endorsed NMD, disregarding the potential implications for nuclear arms control and non-proliferation. Indeed the Government has abandoned Australia's longstanding support for the integrity of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty."
"The Government's view of the ANZUS Alliance involves a suspension of Australia's independent strategic judgment. This is quite contrary to Labor's position.
"In government, Labor will review any Australian involvement in NMD through the early warning satellite relay ground station located at Pine Gap or other arrangements. Our judgment is that Australia should not support or be involved in NMD research, development or trials. Labor's approach will be consistent with our past stance, our support for the integrity of the ABM Treaty as a keystone in nuclear arms control and our assessment of contemporary strategic circumstances."
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