Mr Brereton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 22 March 2004:

(1) How many countries have signed or ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

(2) What efforts has the Australian Government made to encourage the widest possible adherence to the CTBT?

(3) Since November 2001, what representations has the Australian Government made to the Government of the United States of America and the US Congress seeking reconsideration of the United States' failure to ratify the CTBT, in particular, when and to whom were any representations made.

Mr Downer (Minister for Foreign Affairs) —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) As at 6 April 2004, 171 countries have signed the CTBT and 110 countries have ratified. Of the 44 countries whose ratification is required for the Treaty to enter into force, 32 have ratified.

(2) The Government is pursuing a number of strategies to encourage further signatures and ratifications of the CTBT. We continue to take appropriate opportunities to encourage and assist other countries to advance national processes necessary for CTBT signature and ratification. Consistent with the approach developed by meetings of ratifiers, these efforts are focused mainly on countries in our region, as well as those whose ratification is required to trigger entry into force. Outreach efforts have been at ministerial and officials' levels and have included, in some instances, technical assistance. We also continue to promote CTBT adherence in international forums. In the United Nations General Assembly, we are co-sponsor each year, and lead sponsor alternately with New Zealand and Mexico, of a First Committee resolution on the CTBT. Along with Japan and the Netherlands, Australia initiated a Joint Ministerial Statement on the CTBT adopted in September 2002, through which some 50 states reaffirmed their commitment to the CTBT and called upon all states that had not yet signed and ratified to do so as soon as possible. Australia has also been active at successive international conferences held under Article XIV of the CTBT on facilitating entry into force of the Treaty, most recently in September 2003.

(3) Australia continues to take appropriate opportunities to urge all states that have not yet signed and ratified the CTBT - including the United States - to do so as soon as possible, and to urge all states to maintain existing moratoria on nuclear testing. Australia has registered, including in its statement to the Article XIV conference in September 2003, its disappointment with the United States' continued inability to ratify the Treaty.