Explanation needed on possible WMD exports.

Kevin Rudd MP Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Security

Robert McClelland MP Shadow Minister for Defence Shadow Minister for Homeland Security

30 November 2004

EXPLANATION NEEDED ON POSSIBLE WMD EXPORTS

Australian's would be horrified to find that Australian made devices could have been exported and then used in the manufacture of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

The Howard Government has a responsibility today to immediately make plain to the Australian people precisely what it means when it says Australia may have ”innocently” exported products which have been used in WMD research programs.

Defence Minister Hill is reported today to have said that: "They can be exported quite innocently and there have been suggestions that some may have been exported from Australia innocently that have been used within WMD, at least research programs”.

The Howard Government cannot simply cry innocent and make such a stunning public statement without providing further detail to the Australian public.

For the Defence Minister to simply say that he had no reports that such “dual use” goods had not been acquired by terrorist organisations is unacceptable.

The Minister must assure Australians that the existing monitoring regime is effective. He must also explain what he is doing to encourage other exporters in the Asia Pacific region to meet all nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

This Government's ability to constructively engage with our neighbourhood partners on important security issues is under a dark cloud as a result of the Howard doctrine of pre-emptive strikes.

It’s hard to see how Senator Hill’s statement today, without a full explanation, will help matters.

Further information: Alister Jordan (Mr Rudd’s office) 0417 605 823 Tom Cameron (Mr McClelland’s office) 0419 441961