Global Security Newswire

The Australian Parliament on Wednesday approved legislation aimed at further ensuring  that nation's technology is not diverted for use in weapons of mass destruction, according to the Australian Defense Department.

The export measure is included in the Defense Trade Controls Bill, which activates Canberra's side of the Australia-U.S. Defense Trade Cooperation Treaty.

Companies in Australia must already receive Defense authorization to ship to other nations items of concern for security or the spread of arms, according to a department press release. The approved bill requires companies to obtain a permit for using e-mail or other electronic systems to provide data that could enable individuals abroad to prepare, manufacture or employ such products.

"This includes technology that could be used to make weapons of mass destruction such as chemical, biological, nuclear and other weapons," the release states. "Brokering the supply of these goods and technology will also require a permit."

Some have argued that the rule would increase bureaucratic obstacles to valid research and undercut the sharing of data, among other issues.

In a seeming effort to address such concerns, the bill includes measures such as a two-year period to fully implement the new rules and establishment of an expert panel that will "oversee a pilot program which will monitor the effects of strengthened controls on industry and the academic and research sectors during the bill's transition period," according to the release.