Australian Safeguards Office
ASO
1974 – 31 August 1998
Office, headed from 1987 by the statutory Director of Safeguards, that applied Australia's nuclear safeguards obligations, accounting for and controlling nuclear material in Australia.
How it came into existence
Created in 1974 within the Australian Atomic Energy Commission to implement Australia's safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987 later gave its work a statutory basis under a Director of Safeguards, separate from the commission, which was abolished that year.
- Nuclear safeguards
- Nuclear material accounting
Legislation: Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987
Changes during its life
- 1987The Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987 placed the office on a statutory footing under a Director of Safeguards, separate from the Australian Atomic Energy Commission, which ANSTO replaced on 27 April 1987.
How it ended
Combined on 31 August 1998 with the Chemical Weapons Convention Office and the Australian Comprehensive Test-Ban Office to form the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office, under a single Director General.
- Nuclear safeguards
- Nuclear material permits
Main functions
- Nuclear material accounting and control
- Permits for possession and transport of nuclear material
- Implementation of Australia's IAEA safeguards agreement
- Monitoring bilateral safeguards agreements on Australian uranium
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Government records and websites
Some dates or links for this organisation are uncertain. Corrections are welcome.