Australia's nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts are to be subject to a wide-ranging parliamentary review. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has directed the Federal Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Treaties to undertake an inquiry into nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation treaties that involve Australia. These include the Nuclear Non- proliferation Treaty, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, and bilateral safeguards agreements that cover the export of Australian uranium.

The joint committee is to review how the treaties might be made ''more comprehensive or effective''.

The committee's investigation will be the first broad parliamentary review of Australia's nuclear non- proliferation commitments since a Senate committee looked at the issues in 1995. Mr Rudd referred the inquiry to the treaties committee's chairman, Labor backbencher Kelvin Thomson, in a letter dated October 13.

The joint committee will undertake its work in parallel with the Government's International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, jointly chaired by former foreign minister Gareth Evans and former Japanese foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi. Mr Rudd hopes the commission will help shape a global consensus on nuclear issues before the 2010 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty review conference.

Under Mr Thompson's chairmanship, the joint committee has demonstrated independent thinking on nuclear issues, rejecting the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and recommending the Government not ratify a nuclear treaty with Russia.

Mr Thompson said he was honoured the Prime Minister had entrusted his committee to carry out the inquiry. ''I believe the committee can play an important role in engaging the Australian community and other parliaments in the debate leading up to the 2010 Nuclear Non- proliferation Treaty review conference'', he said.