IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda Item 2: Nuclear and radiation safety: Nuclear Safety Review 2024
4 March 2024
Statement by H.E Ambassador Ian Biggs, Governor and Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Thank you, Chair.
Australia thanks Deputy Director General Evrard for her introductory remarks and welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Director General’s draft Nuclear Safety Review 2024.
Australia acknowledges the Agency’s valuable efforts in supporting the advancement of nuclear safety within the global community. Faced with the growing complexity of global threats and challenges, the Agency has successfully adjusted to the changing circumstances and evolving needs of Member States.
Chair,
The Russian Federation’s continued illegal occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant continues to pose grave threats to nuclear safety in Ukraine. Australia reiterates its calls on Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine’s nuclear facilities and to return their control to Ukraine’s competent authorities.
Chair
Australia is committed to improvement and innovation in key areas of nuclear and radiation safety, specifically harmonisation of radiation safety regulatory systems, to ensure they are able to manage current and emerging challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.
Chair
Australia was proud to serve as Vice-President of the Joint 8th and 9th Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety that took place in March 2023. Australia has shown leadership in support of the objectives of the Convention while displaying our commitment to maintaining a high level of nuclear safety worldwide.
Australia was also pleased to participate in the Nuclear Harmonisation and Standardization Initiative (NHSI) plenary meeting in June 2023, and we commend the Agency’s efforts in helping to facilitate the safe development and deployment of innovative technologies, including small modular reactors.
Australia acknowledges the importance of the Agency's peer review services in ensuring nuclear safety worldwide, and in October 2023, Australia was proud to host a follow-up Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission to review Australia’s progress on addressing the findings from the IRRS mission in 2018.
The mission reinforced that Australia is committed to continuous improvement and recognised the strong commitment of the Australian Government and its regulatory bodies to radiation safety. We thank the IAEA and the many countries who contributed their experts for their support.
Chair
Australia acknowledges the seriousness and conscientiousness with which Japan has implemented scientific responses to the challenge of managing groundwater, rainwater, and cooling water at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant, and welcomes the IAEA’s confirmation of the effectiveness of the ALPS treatment process and the ongoing nature of the IAEA’s environmental monitoring over the course of the planned discharge.
Chair
Australia commends the Agency’s efforts to support and strengthen Member States’ radiation safety infrastructure. The promotion and application of the IAEA’s safety standards through capacity building activities addresses the worldwide shortage of qualified individuals – including within our region.
Finally Chair
Australia remains committed to supporting activities in training, education, research, and infrastructure to strengthen expertise in radiological protection worldwide. To compliment these efforts, in September 2023, Australia announced $3.5million (AUD) in funding to the Agency – including $2 million (AUD) for the Agency’s Rays of Hope initiative, which is improving access to safe, equitable and sustainable radiotherapy services and building the cancer care workforce in the Asia-Pacific.
With these comments, Australia takes note of the draft Nuclear Safety Review 2024.
Thank you.