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School of Regulation and Global Governance · ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy
Australia's responsible stewardship of its nuclear capabilities is conditioned upon us continuing to fulfil our international obligations of security and safeguards, as a non nuclear weapons state. Our entry into the AUKUS agreement makes Australia unique, as the first non-nuclear power to adopt nuclear technology for non-peaceful purposes. This course unpacks the implications of this for professionals responsible for the security and safeguarding of nuclear material and technologies. It provides an overview of the history of non-proliferation, international safeguards theory, the network of treaties that are the sources of legal authority for safeguards, Australia's obligations within that framework, relevant international and domestic regulatory institutions including the International Atomic Energy Agency and Australia's role in these, as well as recent debates and negotiations catalysed by the AUKUS agreement. At the regulatory level, it explores the role of standards in safeguards regulation; radiation monitoring and safeguards systems; tools and technique of inspection and verification; enforcement and compliance; export controls; and nuclear security.
In class participation in simulated negotiation
Learning outcomes 1, 3
Electronic submission of two questions for each session, submitted prior to class
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4
Leading one in-class informal discussion or formal debate, including a 1000-word précis of relevant reading(s)
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4
Research and writing outline for an essay or scholarly blog post - 1000 words
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 4, 5
Essay or scholarly blog post - 3000 words
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 4, 5
This course requires 30 contact hours and 130 hours workload in total
No prescribed texts Preliminary Reading IAEA Statute - Statute defines the IAEA, its roles and responsibilities, its governance and its relationship with the member States (Australia is a signatory of the Statue) INFCIRC/140 - Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons - Text of the NPT (Australia is a signatory of the NPTINFCIRC/9 - Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the Agency - Australia has accepted the Privileges and Immunities of the IAEA INFCIRC/153(corrected) -The Structure and Content of Agreements Between the Agency and States Required in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons - Guidance document, produced in conjunction with the States defining the structure and content of safeguards agreements between the IAEA and States required in connection with the NPT INFCIRC/540 - Model Protocol Additional to the Agreement(s) Between State(s) and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards - Model treaty text, produced in conjunction with the States for a protocol additional to their safeguards agreement granting the Agency additional rights of access and placing additional reporting obligations on the States. INFCIRC/217 - The Text of the Agreement Between Australia and the Agency for the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons - Text of Australia’s safeguards agreement with the IAEA