In a response to a report by the Federal Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, the Government yesterday dismissed concerns about Russia's nuclear industry and affirmed it was fully satisfied with the giant nation's preparedness to meet its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). ''The Government is confident that Russia takes seriously its obligations under the NPT,'' the document tabled in Parliament said.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said careful consideration had been given to the committee's report on a bilateral nuclear safeguards agreement signed by the Australian and Russian governments in September 2007.

In September 2008, after Russia's military action against Georgia, the committee recommended the Government not proceed with ratification of the treaty until it had obtained assurances in relation to a range of security and safety issues including the possibility that Australian uranium could be diverted to weapons production or else come into the hands of terrorists.

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