The Convention on Nuclear Safety was ratified by Australia in December 1996
The aim of the Convention is to legally commit participating States operating land-based nuclear installations to maintain a high level of safety by setting international benchmarks to which States would subscribe. The obligations of Australia as a Contracting Party is based to a large extent on the principles contained in the IAEA Safety Fundamentals document The Safety of Nuclear Installations. These obligations include, siting, design, construction, operation, the availability of adequate financial and human resources, the assessment and verification of safety, quality assurance and emergency preparedness.
The Convention is an incentive instrument. It is not designed to ensure fulfilment of obligations by Contracting Parties through control and sanction but is based on their common interest to achieve higher levels of safety which will be developed and promoted through regular meetings. The Convention obliges Australia to submit reports on the implementation of their obligations for 'peer review' at meetings of the Contracting Parties held at the IAEA. This mechanism is the main innovative and dynamic element of the Convention.
Since its ratification in December 1996, Australia has submitted nine National Reports to Convention Review Meetings.
Joint Eighth and Ninth Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety
Meeting date: March 2023
The 8th Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety was not conducted due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Following the decision of the Contracting Parties a Joint 8th and 9th Review Meeting was organised for 2023.
Seventh Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety
Meeting date: 27 March - 7 April 2017
Sixth Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety
Meeting date: 24 March - 4 April 2014
Fifth Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety
Meeting date: 4-14 April 2011
Fourth Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety
Meeting date: 4-25 April 2008
Third Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety
Meeting date: 11-22 April 2005
Second Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety
Meeting date: 15-26 April 2002
August 2012 meeting
August 2012 meeting to consider actions and developments following the accident at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station
As part of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety which was developed with Member States following the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety held an extraordinary meeting in August 2012 to consider:
- actions and developments at a national and international level that have been initiated or influenced by the accident, and
- ways to improve the effectiveness of the Convention.
Additional information on the Convention on Nuclear Safety is available from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
