Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she hopes the historic agreement to secure and destroy Syria's chemical weapons could be a real turning point in the conflict.
The UN Security Council unanimously passed the landmark resolution to eradicate Syria's chemical weapons arsenal after prolonged negotiations between the United States and Russia.
It's the first time since the conflict began in March 2011 that the council has agreed to place any legally binding obligations on Syria.
Ms Bishop said the agreement was a "significant breakthrough" in the long-running crisis in the Middle East.
"We hope that today's outcome marks a real turning point," she said in a statement on Saturday.
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Ms Bishop earlier told the UN General Assembly that Australia, as current president of the security council, would be co-sponsoring the draft resolution on Syria.
It imposes binding and enforceable obligations on Syria to eliminate its chemical weapons, and makes clear the regime of President Bashar al-Assad must cooperate to achieve this.
The successful vote followed a prolonged deadlock between the US and Syrian-ally Russia over the agreement.
Ms Bishop said Syria had been the focus of her talks at the UN this week, and the outcome followed intense diplomatic efforts behind the scenes in New York and before that in Geneva.
Attention will now turn to the humanitarian crisis engulfing the war-torn country, with Ms Bishop urging the council to build on its newfound momentum.
"Ultimately, only a credible negotiation that leads to a genuine political transition in Syria can end the fighting and prevent further loss of life," she said.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the security council meeting that he was now aiming to convene the Syrian parties for talks on a political transition in mid-November.
