Australia's appointment to the UN Security Council's sanctions committee is a big vote of confidence from the world community, Foreign Minister Bob Carr says.
Australia will play an instrumental role on a Security Council committee responsible for applying global sanctions against al-Qaeda, the Taliban and Iran, Senator Carr announced on Monday.
"It's a big vote of confidence in Australia," he told ABC Radio. "(Our role is to monitor) international compliance with sanctions regimes and report back to the UN Security Council on apparent breaches."
Senator Carr said Australia's global security agenda in 2013 would also include a renewed push for a global Arms Trade Treaty in the UN.
The proposed treaty would impose new controls on illicit cross-border dealings in weapons such as automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and ammunition.
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"Negotiations have been pretty tough and taking shape in a serious way since September," the minister said.
There were more than 2000 deaths in conflicts each day, due to the use of illegal Kalashnikovs and rocket propelled grenades, Senator Carr said.
"The world is awash with them," he said. "There are millions of them being traded and being used."
