Senator Brown asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 31 August 1999:

(1) In light of the unanimous Senate resolution of 12 August 1999, on the year 2000 (Y2K) computer problem and nuclear weapons systems, as well as growing international concern on the subject, and in light of Australia's close security arrangements with the United States of America (US), has the Government made any representations whatsoever to the US to ask it to stand down nuclear forces.

(2) Has the Government full and free access to all information relating to the Y2K preparedness of nuclear weapons-related computerised command and control and monitoring systems at Pine Gap and North West Cape.

(3) Is the Government aware of, and has it completed, evaluations of the implications of the fact that these facilities will experience Y2K some 12 hours before systems on the US mainland.

(4) What will be the implications for global strategic stability of failures in the systems at Pine Gap and North West Cape.

(5) (a) What is the state of Y2K preparedness of computerised submarine communication systems at North West Cape; and (b) can the Minister respond to statements by Brookings Institute analyst, Mr Bruce Blair, that low-frequency communications systems for submarine communication cannot be renovated.

(6) Is the Government aware of concerns that have been expressed with reference to the Y2K preparedness of Russian computerised nuclear command and control systems.

(7) Has the Government seriously examined the implications of failure on the `fail-deadly' system known as `Perimeter'.

(8) What steps has the Government taken, and what steps does it plan to take, to ensure that `Perimeter' is never activated.

Senator Newman (Family and Community Services; Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The Government has sought advice on a number of occasions from the United States on measures being taken to ensure the safety of U.S. nuclear forces over the period of Y2K concern. The United States has assessed that there is "no risk of accidental launch" of nuclear weapons over the period of Y2K concern. Nonetheless, this issue is being taken very seriously by the U.S., which inevitably has the greatest vested interest in ensuring that any potential problems are eliminated. The Government is satisfied that the U.S. is taking all necessary precautions to manage this issue.

The Government has not asked the U.S. to stand down its nuclear forces. However, if Russia and the United States were to reach an agreement on the standing down of nuclear forces then Australia would welcome that. In order to maintain nuclear stability, any such agreement would need to be verifiable and enjoy the total confidence of the relevant Nuclear Weapon States.

(2) The Government does have full and free access to all activities at Pine Gap and North West Cape, including Y2K preparedness. Pine Gap, however, is a satellite ground station for intelligence collection, and as such is not involved with the command and control of nuclear weapons. The VLF facility at North West Cape is capable of low volume communication with submerged submarines, including US submarines. In the case of these latter systems, North West Cape is a last resort means of communication. The Government is satisfied that the US is taking all the necessary precautions to manage this issue.

(3) The Government is aware that the change to the year 2000 will occur for the facilities at Pine Gap and North West Cape some 12 hours before systems on the US mainland. This has been a consideration in evaluating the implications of Y2K for these facilities.

(4) The Government is confident that there will be no failure of systems of either Pine Gap or North West Cape over the Y2K period.

(5) (a) North West Cape was certified Y2K compliant in August this year.

(b) No.

(6) Yes. The Government is aware that the United States and Russia have been working intensively to ensure that their nuclear weapon command and control systems are insulated from possible Y2K difficulties. The Government welcomes the announcement on 13 September by the United States and Russia on the establishment of a Y2K Centre for Strategic Stability in Colorado to eliminate any risk that a Y2K problem might arise in early warning systems. This centre will allow personnel from both countries to monitor early warning data on missile and space launches and also report on other potentially destabilising events which might be caused by Y2K failures, such as communications problems.

(7) No. The Government has no detailed knowledge of the Russian systems known as `Perimeter'.

(8) Since the Government has no detailed knowledge of the Russian systems known as `Perimeter' it is not in a position to take steps to ensure that `Perimeter' is never activated. However, as stated in part (6), the Government is aware that the United States and Russia will work intensively to ensure that their nuclear weapons command and control systems are monitored closely for possible Y2K difficulties.