IN A blow to Australia's credibility in global nuclear debates, the Rudd government has ignored a key finding from its own inquiry into disarmament, one that called for limits on the use of atomic weapons in war.

A joint working paper drawn up by Australia and Japan before a major review of global nuclear controls was released yesterday in which the two countries argue for a reduced role for atomic weapons in national security strategies.

But a telling omission from the paper was any call for nuclear weapons to be dedicated to the ''sole purpose'' of deterring nuclear attack - the key recommendation of a report commissioned by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and co-sponsored by Australia and Japan.

It is believed the phrase was left out to avoid embarrassing the US - ally to both Australia and Japan - while the administration of President Barack Obama grapples with a review of America's nuclear policy.