Monday 17 October, 2005

Bi-weekly report from the Nautilus Institute at RMIT, Australia.

1. China’s Secret Uranium Bid
2. China, Australia Hold 9th Defense Strategic Consultation
3. Australia ‘Must Rethink Kyoto’ says Britain
4. Howard To Double ASIO’s Staff After Review
5. Leak Of Draft Law By ACT Chief Angers PM
6. Australia could do more to prevent money-laundering and terrorism financing

Special Report: Australian WMD Disarmament And Non-Proliferation Policies

1. China’s Secret Uranium Bid
   Richard Baker, Age 2005-10-17

   China has asked the Federal Government if it can conduct its own uranium exploration and mining operations in Australia. Confidential diplomatic cables obtained by The Age show the Chinese told Australian officials of their interest at a February meeting in Beijing.

2. China, Australia Hold 9th Defense Strategic Consultation
   Xinhua, People’s Daily Online, 2005-10-14

   The annual bilateral consultation began in Beijing on 2005-10-13. Australia expressed a hope to strengthen military ties with the PLA through more mutual high-level visits, strategic consultations and exchanges among military institutes from both countries.

3. Australia ‘Must Rethink Kyoto’
   AAP, News.com.au, 2005-10-14

   British Prime Minister Tony Blair has sent his chief scientific adviser to Australia to convince the Federal Government to sign up to the Kyoto protocol on greenhouse gas emissions.

4. Howard To Double ASIO’s Staff After Review
   John Breusch, AFR, 2005-10-17

   Prime Minister John Howard announced that the staff of the Australian Secret Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) would increase from 980 to 1860 – triple its size of just three years ago – by 2010, in keeping with the recommendations of a confidential review of ASIO conducted by former Australian Security Intelligence Service (ASIS) chief Allan Taylor. Announcing the increased staffing for ASIO in Sydney yesterday, Mr Howard said that although the review of the organisation commenced before the July terrorist attacks in London, the bombings had encouraged the government to accept Mr Taylor’s recommendations. It is expected to run into the tens of millions of dollars. [Subscription required.]

5. Leak Of Draft Law By ACT Chief Angers PM
   Sushil Seth, AAP, Age, 2005-10-15

   Prime Minister John Howard has condemned the ACT government for publishing copies of the commonwealth’s controversial new anti-terror laws on the internet. ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope released a draft copy of the new laws on his website on Friday.

   See: http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/whats_new.asp?title=What’s%20New for the announcement and http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/docs/B05PG201_v281.pdf for the text.

6. A Hard Rap Over Criminal Money
   Geoff Kitney AFR 2005-10-17

   Australia has been given a sharply adverse report card for its efforts to fight money-laundering and terrorism financing, with the key international monitoring body calling for sweeping improvements.

Special report: Australian WMD Disarmament And Non-Proliferation Policies

“Weapons of Mass Destruction: Australia’s Role in Fighting Proliferation” was recently launched by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Downer. The paper highlights how the immediate and emerging threats posed by the spread of WMD demand new and practical responses to confront these challenges. It outlines Australia’s multidimensional strategy to protect Australia and Australian interests from the threat of WMD proliferation.

Of related interest: Who will stop nuclear next-use? Nautilus Institute Global Scenarios 2004.