UN Security Council: Annual Open Debate on Working Methods Statement
Delivered by H.E Ambassador James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
19 August 2026
Australia thanks Denmark and Pakistan for facilitating this important meeting. We also thank Shamala Kandiah Thompson for her valuable contributions.
President, the Security Council acts on behalf of all member states in executing its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Working methods matter because they are the means by which the Council fulfils that responsibility.
We believe that effective, transparent, and inclusive ways of working equip the Council to implement its critical mandate. They also allow the wider membership to hold the Council accountable.
Australia wishes to make four points.
First, we are profoundly concerned by the ongoing delay in appointing chairs of the Council’s subsidiary bodies.
These bodies undertake much of the essential day-to-day work of the Council and facilitate the provision of valuable information and analysis to all member states.
Regrettably, the delay has deprived all member states of the full benefit of this important reporting and engagement. We urge the Council to resolve the current impasse and consider practical options for avoiding similar delays in the future, including by formulating clear, written pathways for resolving any disagreements that may arise.
Second, the Council is currently engaged in one its most important tasks: formulating a recommendation to the General Assembly for the appointment of the next Secretary-General.
Australia welcomes efforts to make this process more transparent, and we regret that additional measures could not be agreed.
It will be important to document lessons learnt once the process is complete, so that future Council members can benefit from the experience of current members.
Third, we reiterate our longstanding concerns regarding the use of the veto, which too often prevents the Council from responding meaningfully to crises.
We continue to support the ACT Code of Conduct and the French-Mexican initiative. We also urge Council members to fully adhere to Article 27(3) of the Charter and support efforts to clarify its provisions.
Finally, the conduct of Council meetings deserves continued attention. Adherence to speaking time limits by briefers and Council members would promote more focused deliberations and help ensure responsible use of limited UN resources.
President, working methods are more than a technical exercise. They are a critical tool that allows the Council to implement its mandate on behalf of the wider membership.
Australia supports a Council that is transparent, inclusive, representative, and effective. As candidates for the Council in 4 OFFICIAL OFFICIAL 2029-30, we pledge to work constructively with all member states to achieve this goal.
Thank you.