UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY - FIRST COMMITTEE, NUCLEAR CLUSTER DEBATE
Statement delivered by H.E. Clare Walsh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament, Geneva
17 October 2025
Thank you Chair.
Australia’s commitment to a world without nuclear weapons is enduring, underpinned by solemn recognition of the devastating humanitarian consequences of nuclear war.
Eighty years ago, the world changed with the first, and only, use of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Australia solemnly remembers those who lost their lives and all of those who suffered.
We likewise recognise the work undertaken since that time in pursuit of a world free of nuclear weapons. We must protect the nuclear taboo.
The United Nations has been pivotal in establishing norms and institutions to advance nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
But these norms and institutions are coming under strain. And nuclear risks are increasing.
So, what do we need to do?
First, now more than ever, we need to take urgent action to protect what we have built.
The Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and in particular the Review Conference in 2026, must be a key focus for our efforts.
Despite its challenges, the NPT continues to deliver unparalleled security benefits for us all.
To protect the NPT, we need to deal effectively with proliferation.
The world must remain united in addressing DPRK’s continued advancement of its illegal nuclear weapons program. Australia will continue to strictly enforce UNSC sanctions and remains committed to the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
We must also address Iran’s nuclear program. We urge Iran to immediately return to full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and engage to find a diplomatic solution that assures the world that it can never develop a nuclear weapon.
Australia supports the vital role of the IAEA in safeguards, security and safety and urges all States to stand up for the Agency’s independence, mandate and technical authority.
Protecting what we have built also means calling out nuclear threats.
That is why Australia condemns unequivocally Russia’s nuclear posturing and rhetoric in the context of its illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Protecting the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime also means harnessing diversity.
Australia knows that societies and economies are stronger when they draw on the talents of all their citizens. The same applies to our work to advance nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
Australia will continue to pursue improved transparency and accountability in the NPT review process.
Chair,
Third, we must persist with the hard but necessary steps that take us closer to a world without nuclear weapons.
The entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is one such step. As a lead sponsor of the CTBT resolution, Australia asks for your continued support.
Similarly, a treaty to ban the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons is a critical step as is continued practical work on verification.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signature of the Treaty of Rarotonga. The treaty continues to make a concrete contribution to the security of our Blue Pacific.
Chair,
As Australia’s Prime Minister Albanese has said, "Wars are often started by countries who imagine there is something to gain."
Well, there is nothing to be gained from nuclear war. But there is everything to lose.
We must keep this fact front of mind over the course of our deliberations.
Thank you.