Penny Wong ‘crystal clear’ nuclear subs won’t breach treaty obligations

Penny Wong says Australia will ensure it complies with all of its nuclear-free obligations under the Treaty of Rarotonga.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia will ensure it complies with all of its nuclear-free ­obligations under the Treaty of Rarotonga amid concerns that Australia’s fleet of nuclear submarines would undermine the pact.

Speaking from Noumea on Thursday shortly after she addressed New Caledonia’s congress, Senator Wong said Australia’s acquisition of nuclear submarines under the AUKUS pact would not hinder its commitment to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty.

“I want to make this crystal clear – we will ensure we comply with our obligations under the Treaty of Rarotonga,” she said.

“We will ensure we continue to be a party which exercises the highest standards of compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty. I expressed this to (New Caledonian President Louis Mapou) as I have expressed it to other individuals and leaders around the region.”

The pact – known as the Treaty of Rarotonga – not to use, test or possess nuclear weapons within the South Pacific region was signed by Australia, New Zealand and many of its Pacific neighbours including Fiji, Vanuatu and the territory of New Caledonia.

“We are all navigating a world where strategic competition is increasing, that we share a region, we share a future and that we think peace and stability are best served by all of us exercising our agency,” she said.

“That is Australia’s motivation. We are very happy to be very transparent about that.”

Senator Wong told congress that the friendship between Australia and New Caledonia was an important one, as the two countries face similar challenges including increasing expansion in the region from China. She unveiled plans to strengthen ties between Australia and New Caledonia by exploring the possibility of the French territory joining the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, which would allow New Caledonian workers to work in regional Australia.

She also announced a new program to bring six New Caledonian civil servants to participate in the energy resources government initiative this year to promote “sound mining sector governance and exchange best practice”.

Senator Wong has made it a priority to visit every country in the Pacific Island Forum as an “expression of the priority Australia places on our region, the region of which we are a part”.