UNGA80 FIFTH COMMITTEE FIRST RESUMED SESSION
Statement by Ms. Joy Duncan, First Secretary, Australian Mission to the United Nations
24 Feburary 2026
Thank you Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of Canada, New Zealand and my own country, Australia.
CANZ welcomes many of the outcomes of the Fifth Committee’s fall session, including some significant efficiencies, and progress on reform of UN staff costs and pensions, in line with UN80.
We stress the need for Member States and the Secretariat to sustain that momentum and continue efforts to advance a more efficient and effective UN system – one that is better able to deliver the mandates entrusted to it.
This session, CANZ will continue to actively support proposals that enable the long-term financial sustainability of the Organisation. We will back further efforts to strengthen efficiency across the UN’s operations, including through improved human resources management, strengthened
oversight and accountability, and enhanced data transparency.
UN staff are the Organisation’s most valuable asset. UN human resources policies must address the need for cost containment while ensuring a highly skilled, diverse and agile workforce capable of meeting current and future challenges. The HR reports before us offer a chance to reach balanced outcomes that give the Secretariat clear, practical guidance.
The Secretary-General has warned that the Organisation is facing a “moment of truth”, with unpaid contributions and an obligation to return funds that were never received in the first place accelerating a downward liquidity spiral.
CANZ again endorses the Secretary-General’s call for all Member States to pay their assessed contributions on time, in full and without conditions. CANZ members consistently do this, and we underscore the importance of all fellow Member States doing the same.
CANZ looks forward to receiving from the Secretariat information on options to improve the UN’s financial footing. We understand this includes updating the methodology for the determination of the credits to be returned based on actual revenues.
CANZ also looks forward to engaging on the Secretary-General’s proposals to amend the Financial Regulations and Rules (FRRs) to reflect decisions reached in the fall, and to make further improvements to modernise the FRRs.
Human resources reform and a modern financial framework must go hand in hand with disciplined mandate management. In the current environment of fiscal constraints and in the spirit of our ongoing reforms, we must demonstrate restraint in mandating new tasks, while ensuring those we approve are adequately resourced. This applies across all pillars of the UN’s work: peace and security, human rights, development, as
well as the Organisation’s core operational capacities.
Finally, on organisational oversight, we look forward to reviewing the Secretary General’s report on the accountability system, the JIU’s programme of work, and the importance of systemwide oversight in strengthening governance.
Chair,
Across these agenda items, CANZ’s priorities remain consistent: to support financial rules that are fit for purpose; to improve efficiency wherever possible; and to ensure that the Organisation’s resources are aligned with its mandates to deliver outcomes where they are needed most.
The work of this session provides an important foundation for UN80 and other reform efforts this year.
Australia, Canada and New Zealand remain committed to engaging constructively with all Member States to deliver practical, forward-looking outcomes that strengthen the UN’s financial stability and operational effectiveness for the long-term.
Thank you.