This report attempts to explain why some countries produce arms on a limited scale, and what benefits they hope to accrue from that strategy. Decisions to produce arms—even to engage in niche production—need to be continually evaluated and re-evaluated for their costs and benefits. Even if a nation only wants to pursue limited self-sufficiency, that...

This paper examines the issue of nuclear latency (the potential for countries to obtain nuclear weapons capability) by focusing on the cases of the Republic of Korea and Japan, then looks at what Australia should do. Overview Since the 1946 ‘Report on the International Control of Atomic Energy’ and the closely associated Baruch Plan formulated...

This paper assesses key provisions of the ATT by first back-grounding its origins and contested formulation before assessing its transfer, prohibition and national control provisions, Introduction The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) was adopted by vote at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in April 2013 and opened for signatures two months later. It was approved...

As the government formalises an agreement to sell uranium to India, over-turning a decades-old ban, Prime Minister Tony Abbott claims the Asian nation has an "absolutely impeccable record" on nuclear non-proliferation.

My subject today concerns a balance sheet—a balance sheet for disarmament to be precise. I am told that the British scientist, Dame Mary Archer, once said, “It sounds extraordinary but it's a fact that balance sheets can make fascinating reading.”