Australian monitoring efforts in support of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
In August 2024, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency visited its recently relocated radionuclide facility on Macquarie Island, Antarctica. This icy outpost plays a key role in the International Monitoring System to ensure that no nuclear test or explosion goes undetected, anywhere in the world.
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty is an agreement between 178 countries to end nuclear weapon use and testing. It was ratified by Australia in 1998. ARPANSA cooperates with the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office to carry out the nation’s radionuclide monitoring obligations under the treaty.
ANSO is the national authority for Australia’s obligation under the treaty and coordinates Australia's contribution by bringing together experts and agencies from across government. Treaty compliance is monitored through the installation, implementation and operation of Australian monitoring stations spread across the country and in Fiji, Kiribati and Antarctica.
The treaty aims to ban all nuclear explosions, whether for military or civilian purposes, in any environment. It provides a comprehensive international verification regime, by analysing, integrating and comparing data from the monitoring system. In this way, the time, location and nature of a possible nuclear event can be determined.
ARPANSA’s Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty station is located on Macquarie Island, also home to elephant seals (pictured) and other wildlife.
Image: Joshua Hofman, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
Working together
ASNO coordinates Australia’s treaty contributions by working with ARPANSA, Geoscience Australia, the Australian National University and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization in Vienna to manage 21 stations and one laboratory. Seven of these are operated by ARPANSA.
Located worldwide, the monitoring system ꟷ when complete ꟷ will include 321 monitoring facilities and 16 radionuclide laboratories to detect nuclear explosions in all environments, including underwater. The system is nearing completion, with more than 90% of stations installed, certified and operational.
ARPANSA’s treaty team has expanded to include operational responsibility for the radionuclide stations in Fiji and Kiribati. The agency also contributes to policy recommendations to the treaty organisation on matters of compliance, developing technical standards and improving data quality within the monitoring system.
Benefits for the community
The treaty is a framework for governments to work together to safeguard people and the environment from radiation.
Australia has experienced the devastation of nuclear weapons testing. Work to restore former nuclear test sites at Maralinga and Emu Field in South Australia, and the Montebello Islands off the Pilbara Coast in Western Australia, confirms the long-term impacts. Radiation on the Montebello Islands remains high today, with visitor restrictions in place.
Australia plays an important role in contributing to the international monitoring system, which supports the treaty’s purpose to uphold global efforts towards nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
Find out more
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (n.d.) Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, ARPANSA website, accessed 13 August 2025.