Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 5 May 2011:

(1) Who represents Australia on the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC).

(2) Who represented Australia at the Infrastructure Development Working Group and Reliable Nuclear Fuel Services Working Group meetings held in Paris in April 2011.

(3) Who will represent Australia at the 6th Steering Group Meeting to be held in Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, on 18 May and 19 May 2011.

(4) What qualifies as an 'observer organisation' to the IFNEC.

(5) What are the Government's objectives in engaging with the IFNEC.

(6) To date, what is the total cost arising from Australian delegations engaging with the IFNEC.

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Resources and Energy has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) A number of agencies across Government have represented Australia at the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation meetings and its predecessor the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership. These agencies include:

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) (including the Australian Safeguard and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO));

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO);

The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET) and formally Department of Industry, Tourism and Resource

(2) Ms Nicole Hinton, Manager, Uranium Industry and Nuclear Section, Fuels and Uranium Branch, Resources Division, Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism

(3) Dr Robert Floyd, Director General of Australian Safeguard and Non-Proliferation Office

(4) An international organization may be invited to participate in the International Framework by consensus of IFNEC Participants, and becomes an Observer Organization by accepting the invitation to join the International Framework by letter to the Chair of the Executive Committee. Current Observer Organizations are the International Atomic Energy Agency, the European Atomic Energy Community and the Generation IV International Forum.

(5) Australia has been attending meetings of IFNEC on a non-active participant basis. Objectives are to ensure that Australia's interests in nuclear non-proliferation and security are taken into account by monitoring IFNEC developments, and by providing information (e.g. concerning uranium mining) to IFNEC partners, as appropriate.

(6) Total travel costs, since 2007, for attendance at meetings of IFNEC and its predecessor, the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, are estimated at $113,600.