Senator BOB BROWN (Leader of the Australian Greens) (2:57 PM) —My question is to Senator Coonan, in her capacity as the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs. What action plan has the government got in place to respond to the nuclear test by North Korea, corroborated by seismic analysis in South Korea, that took place at 11.36 this morning, Australian Eastern Standard Time? Has the government, as one of the few in the Western camp that has diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, an action plan to engage to meet this very serious threat to security in our region? Will the government review its plan to increase uranium exports into a world increasingly endangered by the trade in radioactive materials by non-government and government rogue elements, including terrorist organisations like al-Qaeda?

Senator COONAN (Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) —I thank Senator Brown for the question. Firstly, I should say to the Senate that I am aware of unconfirmed media reports of a test of a nuclear device in North Korea. It is a very serious matter, but so far, as at the start of question time, we have been unable to confirm these reports. It is absolutely scandalous. There is no doubt at all that North Korea’s ordinary people suffer while its leadership, which has relied for over 10 years on international aid to feed its people, devotes that nation’s scarce resources to weapons and missile programs.

However, I can give Senator Brown some information about the government’s action in relation to North Korea. As I understand it, there has indeed been some reasonably recent contact between the minister and the North Korean ambassador. In these communications Mr Downer has strongly condemned North Korea’s announcement that it intended to test a nuclear weapon. As I said, at the start of question time that had not been confirmed. On the instructions of Mr Downer, the acting DFAT secretary called in the North Korean ambassador on 4 October to register Australia’s outrage at North Korea’s statement to proceed.

The ambassador was told—unequivocally, as I understand it—that a test would make North Korea less secure, not more; that a test would be a grave setback to the peaceful resolution of the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and a fundamental blow, of course, to regional stability. These matters have been well and truly flagged, for Senator Brown’s information. Australia does fully support the presidential statement unanimously adopted by the United Nations Security Council on 6 October expressing deep concern over the nuclear test threat. North Korea, on these indications, should have no illusions about the severe consequences that would follow a test if in fact that is confirmed. A nuclear test would be completely unacceptable to the international community and would provoke a very strong international response. Such action would logically go well beyond the UNSCR Resolution 1695, and Australia would fully support such measures. Australia would also respond to a test with new restrictions on the bilateral relationship, which will remain until North Korea meets the commitments it made in the joint statement issued by the six-party talks in September last year.

I think it is fair to say that this government is outraged that a country that has had to rely principally on the international community to provide even basic food to its people does devote so many of its scarce resources to missile and nuclear weapons programs. What I will do in response to Senator Brown’s question is, first of all, see whether or not the reports can be confirmed; and if I can provide some further specific information, I will do so.

Senator BOB BROWN —I ask a supplementary question, Mr President. The minister has indicated that there may be a diplomatic shutdown on North Korea in the wake of this alleged event. I ask whether the government has considered the alternative: with psychological profiling of the North Korean authorities, an approach to try to improve the engagement between North Korea and the Group of Six countries? The second part of my question was to ask the minister about reviewing the export of uranium into an increasingly dangerous world threatened by rogue states and terrorist organisations.

Senator COONAN (Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) —I thank Senator Brown for the supplementary question. As I said, I had intimated, on the foreign minister’s behalf, that Australia would respond to a test, if confirmed, with new restrictions on the bilateral relationship. Obviously I think it is prudent, before I provide further information in relation to this matter, that we confirm whether or not the test has taken place and then, obviously, the government’s position can be settled. Mr President, I ask that further questions be put on notice.

Senator Conroy —Point of order, Mr President: we started late.

The PRESIDENT —I think we did start a bit later, Minister, and I think we should allow this—

Senator Chris Evans —Four questions would be a record even for this government—

Honourable senators interjecting—It’s four past.

The PRESIDENT —With the interjections, we will be here until 10 past. I call Senator Conroy.