Visit to Austria for the International Conference on Nuclear Security

This week I will travel to Vienna to represent Australia as co-President of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) International Conference on Nuclear Security (ICONS) 2024.

ICONS is the world’s only ministerial-level international conference on nuclear security. Co- chaired by Australia and Kazakhstan, ICONS 2024 will bring together ministers, policy makers, and technical and legal experts to renew and strengthen collective nuclear security commitments.

This visit will reinforce Australia’s leadership, technical expertise in nuclear security and commitment to improving the global nuclear non-proliferation and security regime.

While in Vienna, I will meet with a range of ministers and senior officials attending ICONS. I welcome the IAEA’s support for attendance from the Pacific and look forward to engaging with my colleagues from our region.

I will also meet with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi to reinforce Australia’s steadfast support for the work of the IAEA in the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear technology, and in verifying States’ compliance with nuclear non-proliferation commitments. I will join representatives from across the globe in urging the international community to maintain strong cooperation on nuclear security.

As part of the Conference, I will join with Kazakhstan to lead an event on achieving gender equality in nuclear security. A panel of experts from across the globe will provide practical insights and best practice to encourage greater diversity and inclusion in national nuclear security regimes.