Australia

Notwithstanding the obligation to destroy all stockpiled anti-personnel mines, the Convention permits the retention of the minimum number of anti-personnel mines absolutely necessary for the development of and training in mine detection, mine clearance, or mine destruction techniques.

In its initial transparency report submitted on 23 December 1999, Australia reported having retained anti-personnel mines for these permitted purposes. These mines were used for training requirements, including the destruction and disposal of anti-personnel mines, mine awareness and countermine training, and research into the effects of anti-personnel mines, primarily conducted by the School of Military Engineering. 

As of 2016, Australia reported no longer holds stocks. Australia further reported that it "now uses alternative technologies in order to continue to train for mine location, identification and neutralisation."

In its transparency report submitted on 21 May 2001, Australia reported that it had completed the destruction of all stockpiled anti-personnel mines.

In total, Australia reported having destroyed 134,621 anti-personnel mines.

Australia has not reported any areas under its jurisdiction or control in which anti-personnel mines are known or suspected to be emplaced.

Article 6 of the Convention indicates that “Each State Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance for mine clearance and related activities […], the care and rehabilitation, and social and economic reintegration, of mine victims and for mine awareness programs […], the destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines, […] with a view to ensuring the full and prompt implementation of agreed assistance programs.”

In this regard Australia routinely engages in such cooperation and assistance. The latest statement on Article 6 for this State Party can be found on this page.

Annually and no later than 30 April, each State Party is to update information covering the previous calendar year. The latest Article 7 reports for this State Party can be found on this page.

Each State Party is to take all appropriate legal, administrative and other measures, including the imposition of penal sanctions, to prevent and suppress any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention undertaken by persons or on territory under its jurisdiction or control.

Australia has reported having established national implementation measures or that it considers existing legislation to be sufficient.