Despite pretentions to playing a leading role in world affairs, the Australian Government showed a complete lack of leadership in the United Nations vote on depleted uranium.

Greens spokesperson for nuclear policy Senator Scott Ludlam said the decision to abstain from the vote on a resolution on depleted uranium weapons was "as inexplicable as it is disgusting".

"This was the United Nations First Committee's most far-reaching resolution on DU weapons to date, and 138 countries said yes - but the Australian Government couldn't find the guts to get off the fence.