Australia blocks shipment to Pakistan over weapons fears | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Australia blocks shipment to Pakistan over weapons fears

AFP | By, Sydney
Apr 06, 2010 01:11 PM IST

Australia has blocked a shipment of scientific equipment to Pakistan over fears it could be used to help build weapons of mass destruction, a spokesman for Defence Minister John Faulkner said.

Australia has blocked a shipment of scientific equipment to Pakistan over fears it could be used to help build weapons of mass destruction, a spokesman for Defence Minister John Faulkner said.

HT Image
HT Image

The government used the 1995 Weapons of Mass Destruction (Prevention of Proliferation) Act to stop an Australian company exporting instruments and accessories to a Pakistani firm, he said.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"The minister forms the view, based on advice from the Department of Defence supported by other agencies, that there are unacceptable risks associated with the provision of these goods," the spokesman said.

It is the fourth time the minister has used the little-known act to block a shipment going overseas. On previous occasions, the goods had been destined for Iran or countries deemed at risk of passing them on to Iran.

The government refused to name either the Australian or Pakistani companies involved in the transaction, but The Australian newspaper said, the domestic firm was GBC Scientific Equipment.

It said, GBC wanted to sell two atomic absorption spectrophotometers, which analyse liquid samples, to a Pakistani engineering firm but had been unable to convince Canberra they could not be used to analyse metals used for centrifuges and missiles.

"They're destroying my company and, more to the point, they've basically moved my thoughts to forget about Australia," the company's managing director Ron Grey said.

"Basically, you've got a whole lot of overpaid public servants and their job is to screw up one of Australia's few export industries," he said.

Faulkner said, while he was aware of the commercial impact his decision would have on the company, the firm had been consulted throughout the process.

"I want to make clear, there is no suggestion of wrong doing by the Australian company," the minister said.

Australia normally blocks the sale of dangerous goods or items to suspect nations via the Customs Act, but the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act is used as a catch-all when this legislation does not apply.

GBC is a major manufacturer of high-tech analytical instruments. It could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On