The Australian government launched its first NAP on International Women’s Day in 2012, for the period starting in 2012–2018. The development of the NAP was led by the Australian Government Office for Women, which was tasked with convening the Women, Peace and Security Inter Departmental Working Group. The government undertook extensive Civil Society engagement leading up to and during the development of the NAP, including with WILPF-Australia. Given that the Australian NAP was only adopted in March 2012, the NAP document devotes considerable attention to what Australia has already been doing to support the full implementation of UNSCR 1325. The actual action plan is relatively unique in that it has actions that correspond to more than one priority area. The NAP also commits the Australian Government to report to the Federal Parliament on implementation progress every two years.
Australia has no recent history of armed conflict and does not face any external threats. As such, the Australian NAP has a primarily external focus, and is aimed at mainstreaming gender and implementing UNSCR 1325 particularly as related to peace operations and engagement in fragile states and conflict-affected situations. Australia is a key contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and NATO military missions, and provides international humanitarian relief and development assistance. This includes peacekeeping missions in East Timor, regional assistance missions in the Solomon Islands, and humanitarian support and law enforcement to indigenous communities. Critical issues of concern include limited women's leadership in senior positions in the police, military, parliament, and public offices. This is particularly relevant for indigenous women.
Australia recognises that determined and coordinated efforts are required to respond to the needs and promote the protection and participation of women and girls in fragile, conflict and post-conflict situations. To consolidate the important work already underway in Australia and take the next step, the Australian Government developed a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. However, the actions and monitoring and evaluation framework of the NAP does not address disarmament issues, or connect the proliferation of weapons to women’s insecurity. The Australian NAP also does not include an allocated or estimated budget, and there are no other financial resource consideration references within the NAP.