Australia at the UN urges nations to re-double efforts on nuclear disarmament

The Foreign Affairs minister addressed nuclear proliferation and the pursuit of accountability for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in her UN General Assembly speech.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has made her first address to the United Nations General Assembly. (AAP) Source: AAP

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne has backed the UN's efforts for global nuclear disarmament in her address to the General Assembly on Saturday.

Speaking to world leaders at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, Ms Payne said the international community must "re-double" its effort to rid the world of nuclear and chemical weapons.

"One proof of the necessity of the United Nations is the hard fact that we cannot, with all confidence, rid the world of nuclear weapons, not today, or this year," she said.

"Given this reality, we must re-double our efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and to build the international trust and confidence necessary to move towards a world free of nuclear weapons. Our people expect us to continue to work towards verifiable nuclear disarmament with sound compliance, safeguards and enforcement regimes."

Ms Payne stressed that it is critical that Iran's nuclear program - the 2015 accord that ended a 12-year standoff between Iran and the West - remains in place and that Iran abides by its commitments.

She also said Australia will uphold its own sanctions while waiting to see how the US and North Korea negotiations develop.

"The world watches with anticipation as the negotiations continue between the United States and North Korea, pursuing complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Peninsula,' she said.

Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly Friday, Sept. 28, 2018.

AAP

"Australia will continue to fully uphold our obligations and maintain our own autonomous sanctions while awaiting real progress towards denuclearisation."

During her speech, the foreign affairs minister also reaffirmed Australia's commitment to pursuing justice for the friends and families devastated by the tragedy of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.

"Mr President, many here will remember my predecessor and my friend Julie Bishop's determined and sustained work pursuing accountability for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17," Ms Payne said.