UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLENARY AGENDA ITEM 122 – QUESTION OF EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION ON AND INCREASE IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL
11 November 2024
STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UN, H.E. AMBASSADOR JAMES LARSEN
Thank you President,
I would like to thank the Permanent Representatives of Austria and Kuwait for their ongoing leadership as Co-Chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations and congratulate them on their reappointment. You have Australia’s full support.
Australia has long taken a keen interest in both the membership of, as well as equitable representation on, the Security Council.
Indeed, Australia was actively engaged in a robust debate on both these issues at the time of the very creation of the United Nations.
And in those debates we were consistent in holding out for the principle that equitable geographic distribution is key to ensuring appropriate representation of middle and smaller powers.
And if I might be allowed a small historical footnote, Australia’s advocacy on this issue led to Australia being elected onto the very first Security Council way back in January 1946 and then holding the very first Presidency of that council.
Consistent with our longstanding approach, Australia was pleased to support the consensus position in the Pact for the Future agreed earlier this year that the Council must become more representative of the broader United Nations membership.
Today, Australia advocates for three key positions:
First, we support greater permanent and non-permanent representation for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Asia-Pacific.
Second, Australia strongly supports further exploration of ways to ensure more equitable representation for Small Island and Developing States.
Third, we agree strongly with the need to intensify our efforts concerning the future of the veto.
Australia opposed the existence of the veto from the very outset.
And, for as long as the veto remains a feature of Council business, we need greater constraints on, and transparency around, its use.
President,
In addition to the above measures, we consider more needs to be done to improve the working methods and transparency of the Council, including by:
- enhancing participation by non-members;
- increasing consultation and coordination with other UN bodies, including the Peacebuilding Commission; and
- improving the substance of the Security Council’s annual report to the General Assembly.
Finally, President,
Australia’s upcoming term on the Peacebuilding Commission and candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for 2029-2030, reflect our long-standing commitment to the United Nation’s peace and security agenda.
We stand ready to engage productively in further reform discussions through the Intergovernmental Negotiations.
And we again urge member states to move to text-based negotiations.
In our view, this is the best way to move the dial towards delivering on our collective promise to reform the Security Council in a way that meets the needs of all countries – no matter their size or might.
Thank you.