Mr SERCOMBE (1:11 PM) —A number of members, including the member for Aston (Mr Nugent) and I, had the opportunity yesterday to meet with a Pakistani parliamentary delegation that is visiting Australia. I had the opportunity on several occasions, and the member for Aston had the opportunity on at least one occasion. Quite naturally, the principal area of discussion in that meeting concerned the outrageous actions of the Indian government in conducting tests with five nuclear devices earlier this month. One of those devices was a thermonuclear device. They have also tested low yield devices, which are devices that are particularly dangerous because of their tactical capacities for use in conflict. The question of India's flouting of international norms by carrying out those tests is an important matter for all in this parliament. Also, India has foreshadowed its intention to proceed to develop a missile delivery system—which further destabilises security arrangements not only on the subcontinent but also, I believe, globally.

India in the past has claimed some moral authority in world affairs, and I think with some justification. Its independence struggle, with its emphasis on non-violence, and the lead that India provided in the non-aligned movement in the Cold War period are certainly both areas where it ought to receive recognition for its moral claim. But it really has gone a great way down the track to forgoing those claims, because of its outrageous actions in recent days.

Australia has played a leading role in the past in strides towards non-proliferation, and Australia's role in the establishment of the comprehensive test ban treaty really gives us considerable clout in terms of putting our view on these issues. One has to ask why India has sought to destabilise global non-proliferation efforts by its actions. Certainly, India's security situation is complex but it is scarcely desperate. It clearly has justifiable Great Power aspirations, but one would have thought that it would perhaps be better served as a nation by following aspects of the example of Japan, concentrating on unleashing the economic potential of the very great country that it is, and achieving consequent social benefits for its people and its neighbours, rather than by pursuing the sorts of policies it is pursuing.

Disastrously, the temptation for Pakistan now to reciprocate in kind is very strong. We and all Australians urge that country to assume some of the moral mantle that India has forgone by its actions. It is vital that sanctions on India be demonstrated to be real and effective. It is noteworthy that, whilst the World Bank indicated just the other day that it was withholding several loans, certainly the perception of the Pakistanis is that those sanctions are not particularly strong or adequate. The failure—in the Pakistani view—of the Russians, the French, and possibly the British to take economic retaliatory measures against India is, in particular, very strongly in their minds in terms of influencing their judgments.

It is also very necessary to take strong action against India in the current climate, to send a clear unequivocal measure to a range of other potential nuclear power states, including some not terribly distant, such as Iran, to indicate the consequences of the actions the world community would take if they breach international norms. It is also important to renew efforts and particularly for Australia to use its influence to renew efforts to restart the global arms control discussions, to start up the START process again, if you will excuse the pun in that, and to take steps towards negotiating an effective fissile materials cut-off regime.

We have, as I said before, got real authority there because of the performance particularly of the former government and the establishment of the Canberra Commission. There really needs to be a renewed commitment to ensuring strong economic incentives to countries like Pakistan to focus on economic development. Minister Downer's announcement the other day of a preparedness to double Australia's aid to just $6 million indicates, I think, a fairly miserly approach and one that needs to be reviewed in terms of providing real incentives for countries like Pakistan not to go down the nuclear route. There needs to be renewed international concern, I believe, about Pakistan's security position, particularly in attempting to solve the problem of Kashmir. (Time expired)