Office of the

Minister for Defence

MEDIA RELEASE

DEFENCE UPDATES EXPORT CONTROLS

Blinding lasers, military scope-sights, computers, controlled chemicals and nuclear industry goods have all received attention in the first revision of the Defence and Strategic Goods List (DSGL), the Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel, Mrs Bronwyn Bishop, announced today.

Changes to the Guidelines for Exporters and Importers, which accompany the DSGL, have also been made. The changes to both documents have been made to maintain currency with our major trading partners, reflect agreements made in the various international non-proliferation regimes of which Australia is an active member, and should make it easier for Australian industry to operate under the controls.

The DSGL, and the associated Guidelines, were introduced in December 1996.

The major change to the DSGL is the increase in the threshold of digital computers from a composite theoretical performance (CTP) of 710 million theoretical operations per second (MTOPS) to 2000 MTOPS.

"The threshold level for digital computers in the Sensitive List of Dual-Use Goods has risen to 4000 MTOPS from 2000 MTOPS," Mrs Bishop said, "and this will now be the new level for General Export Licences. This effectively lifts controls from the majority of digital computer exports from Australia."

Another feature is the closing of a loophole that previously only controlled the export of non-military telescopic sights.

"Scope sights have been added to the controls on military firearms and larger calibre weapons," the Minister said.

Blinding lasers have been included for control in the Munitions List.

"These are items, separate from lasers that are normally used for laser range finding or target designation, that have been designed with the primary purpose of causing blindness on the battleground," Mrs Bishop said.

"This item has been introduced as part of Australia's obligations under the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects."

The nuclear industry goods list has been completely reformatted for improved clarity but the controls over these goods have not been amended.

The method of calculating the concentration of controlled chemicals in a mixture has been changed to a more practical measure - from a solvent-free basis to a measure by weight.

Full details of Amendment No. 1 of June 1998, as the revision is known, will be published in the Government Notices Gazette of 5 August 1998 and will also be available at a new export control web site www.defence.gov.au/dao/exportcontrols

Further information:
Ministerial Jennifer Eddy (02) 6277 7280
Departmental Maurice Hermann (02) 6266 4187