(1)   Is he aware that the Director of the United States of America (US) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Mr George Tenet, recently told the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that Osama bin Laden had sought to “acquire or develop a nuclear device”.

(2)   Is he aware that the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported 175 nuclear smuggling incidents since 1993, 18 of which involved highly enriched uranium, the key ingredient in an atomic bomb and the most dangerous product on the nuclear black market.

(3)   Is he able to say what proportion of shipping containers arriving in Australian harbours and airports are scanned for radioactive emissions; if not, why not.

(4)   Can he confirm whether containers arriving from parts of the world where terrorists are known to be active, such as the Middle East, are more closely scrutinised for radioactive materials; if not, why not.

(5)   Is he aware of the United Nations (UN) report titled ‘Time to control tactical nuclear weapons’ dated 24 September 2001 which recommended measures such as installing radiation scanners at key facilities such as ports and border crossings.

(6)   Can he say what measures have been taken by the Australian government to comply with the recommendations made in the 2001 UN report; if not, why not.

(1)   I am advised that the former Director of the US CIA, Mr George Tenet, has stated that he had consistently warned the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence about “al Qa`ida’s interest in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons” and that “acquiring these remains a ‘religious obligation’ in Bin Laden’s eyes, and al Qa`ida and more than two dozen other groups are pursuing chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials.”

(2)   I am advised that on 1 November 2001, the IAEA reported that “since 1993, there have been 175 cases of trafficking in nuclear material and 201 cases of trafficking in other radioactive sources. Only 18 of those cases involved small amounts of highly enriched uranium or plutonium, the material needed to produce a nuclear bomb.”

(3)   I am advised that the Australian Customs Service risk assesses 100 per cent of cargo entering Australia for a variety of contraband items. Customs inspects around 6 per cent of sea cargo and 70 per cent of air cargo using a range of technologies capable of detecting a variety of threats. I understand that radiation pagers and radiation identifiers are used by Customs to detect radioactive emissions in cargo.

(4)   I am advised that the Australian Customs Service uses a wide variety of risk indicators to target cargo and shipping for examination. Country of origin may be one of these risk indicators.

(5)   I have not read the United Nations report entitled “Time to Control Tactical Nuclear Weapons”. I am advised, however, that while this seminar report notes that the installation of radiation scanners at ports and border crossings could significantly improve the control over the movement of nuclear-weapon-useable fissile materials, it does not make any recommendations to this effect.

(6)   I am advised that the seminar recommendations are directed at states with tactical nuclear weapons. As a state without nuclear weapons, Australia’s main contribution to nuclear disarmament is working for progress on the reinforcing steps essential to create an environment favourable to the elimination of nuclear weapons. This includes Australia’s strong support for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and leading role in work to strengthen the International Atomic Energy Agency’s nuclear safeguards system.