Sydney: The main provisions of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) Act 1998 come into effect in Australia from today (Apr 19, 2004) helping the country to lead global efforts against proliferation of nuclear weapons, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.

"This will help Australia maintain its leading role in international efforts against the testing and proliferation of nuclear weapons," he said.

These include "practical steps, already well advanced in Australia, to develop the International Monitoring System (IMS) which is at the heart of CTBT verification. Australia has in operation 16 of the 21 IMS monitoring facilities it will host," he said.

The coming into effect of CTBT will make causing a nuclear weapon test explosion, or any other nuclear explosion, an offence under Australian law punishable with a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life.

This law will apply to all persons within Australia and to Australian citizens anywhere.

The proclamation of these laws has been made possible following the passage of the Non-Proliferation Legislation Amendment Act 2003, which introduced measures to strengthen Australia's commitment to countering the proliferation of nuclear weapons.