UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEBATE – 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’
Statement delivered by H.E. Ms. Beth Delaney, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
18 November 2025
Thank you President
I thank the Permanent Representatives of the Netherlands and Kuwait for taking on leadership of the Intergovernmental Negotiations.
You have Australia’s full support.
Australia is a longstanding supporter of Security Council reform.
Reform should enhance representation in the membership of the Council, and enhance the Council’s working methods to increase transparency and participation.
We thank Member States who continue to engage constructively on reform – through this debate, the Intergovernmental Negotiations framework, and groups of member states including the Group of Four, and the Uniting for Consensus Group.
Today Australia makes three points.
First, any credible Council reform needs to consider reform of Council membership.
Australia’s position on this has been clear and consistent.
- Australia supports greater permanent and non-permanent representation for Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
- And Australia supports further exploration of ways to ensure more equitable representation for Small Island Developing States, to ensure the Council takes into account their perspectives and needs.
Second, Australia supports reform that enhances both the transparency of the Council, and participation by non-members in its sessions.
- We appreciate the inclusion of a dedicated chapter on the use of the veto in the Security Council’s annual report to the General Assembly. Our opposition to the veto is longstanding – we strongly support ways to limit its use, including through voluntary restraint and through the proper application of Article 27 (iii).
- We also encourage increased consultation and coordination with the Peacebuilding Commission, and welcome progress to this end, including ongoing efforts to implement the revised Note 507.
- And we emphasise the important contributions of briefers in Security Council sessions, including civil society representatives and humanitarian briefers, and urge their expanded participation.
Third, we are at a time when broad reform of the UN system is critical, to ensure its effectiveness, transparency and accountability.
The Security Council must be a part of our collective efforts on reform, to ensure it lives up the promise of the Charter, and delivers on its solemn responsibilities into the future.
Australia’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for 2029-2030 reflects our long-standing commitment to the United Nation’s peace and security agenda.
We stand ready to engage productively in further efforts to deliver meaningful reform.
Thank you.