Australia: Review of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act 1995

Review of Weapons of Mass Destruction (Prevention of Proliferation) Act 1995

Defence has released details of a review into the Weapons of Mass Destruction (Prevention of Proliferation) Act.

The Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, has appointed Mr Bill Blick AM, PSM, to conduct the review. Mr Blick is a former Inspector General of Intelligence and Security with long and relevant experience in public administration.

The Terms of Reference for the review are wide-ranging, addressing both the processes used to apply the Act as well as the technical provisions of the existing legislation.

The Weapons of Mass Destruction Act was passed in 1995. It gives the Minister for Defence the power to deny the export of goods and services that are not otherwise controlled should the Minister form a belief or suspicion that the goods would or might be used for a weapons of mass destruction program.

The Act provides a ‘catch-all’ or end-user control for non-controlled goods.

Defence initiated the review to capture the lessons from implementation of the Act since 1995 and to ensure that the legislation and surrounding processes reflect current regulatory best practice. This review will complement a review of decision-making processes under the Act, conducted in 2010 by Mr Martin Brady AO.

Mr Blick will report to the Minister in the first half of 2012.

ENDS

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