Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform
Statement by Mr. Matthew Blainey, Political Adviser, Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations
16 June 2026
Thank you, Co-Chairs, for your work during this session of the IGN and for the latest iteration of the Elements Paper.
We recognise that this is a complex task and commend you and your teams for your leadership throughout the process.
Australia remains firmly committed to meaningful and practical reform to strengthen the UN’s effectiveness, transparency, and accountability.
Today I make three points:
First – The Security Council must be fit for the world as it is now, not the world of 1945.
Australia is open to reforms that expand membership and improve regional balance.
Greater permanent and non-permanent representation for Africa, as well as the Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the
Caribbean, would make the Council more credible and more effective. We also support stronger cross-regional representation for Small Island Developing States, whose leaders bring indispensable insight to today’s security challenges.
Second – Australia welcomes the detailed proposal from the African Union. Africa deserves greater representation on the Security Council.
A significant portion of the Security Council's agenda focuses on Africa. The continent must have greater representation and
more input into those deliberations. The underrepresentation of Africa is not only outdated. It is, as has been argued, a historical injustice.
Third – Reform must address how the Council works, not just who sits on it.
Australia is pleased to see the Elements Paper notes that incremental changes can be made to the working methods of the
Security Council in its present form, without amendments to the Charter.
In this vein, we welcome the African Model’s focus on increased transparency in the Council’s working methods, including closer engagement between the Presidents of the Council and the General Assembly.
Australia will remain an active and pragmatic partner in Security Council reform, recognizing that the Council’s credibility and its capacity to uphold international peace and security depends on meaningful change.
Thank you.