WHAT IS THE TPNW?

• The first global treaty to comprehensively outlaw nuclear weapons, making it illegal to possess, test, host, develop, transfer, stockpile, use, threaten to use, or assist, induce or encourage any of these acts.
• It sets out a framework for all nations to pursue the total elimination of nuclear weapons via binding and verifiable agreements.
• It was negotiated in 2017 and adopted by the UN with the support of 122 countries. To date, 92 states have signed on and of these 68 states have already ratified the treaty.
• The Treaty grew from an Australian initiative and ICAN received the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for advancing this work.

WHAT IS LABOR’S POSITION?

• Labor supports the TPNW and committed to sign and ratify it in government at the 2018 national conference, in a resolution moved by Anthony Albanese and seconded by Richard Marles. This policy was reaffirmed in 2021 and has been backed by almost every state and territory Labor branch, as well as many local branches, unions and parliamentarians.
• The platform policy refers to the need to “take account” of several prudent considerations that pose no barrier to signature and ratification: TPNW/NPT complementarity, the need for a strong verification framework and the need to seek universalisation. Further detail on the considerations is here.
• The Government attended the First Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW as an observer, and ended Australia’s opposition to the treaty by abstaining on a resolution vote at the 2022 UN First Committee.
• In April 2023 the Foreign Minister said the TPNW has “substantial normative value“.
• The government has said that it “will consider the TPNW systematically and methodically” and “engage closely with our international partners – including the United States – as part of this process”.
  

WHAT DOES AUKUS MEAN FOR THE TPNW?

• Nothing in AUKUS prevents or precludes Australia from joining the TPNW. The TPNW does not prohibit nuclear-propelled submarines.
• AUKUS escalates the need for Australia to join the treaty to reassure the Australian public and our region that this and future governments will never acquire, host, support or assist with nuclear weapons possession and use in any way.
• ICAN opposes Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-propelled submarines, as this would undermine the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, escalate tensions in our region and increase the priority of Australian sites for nuclear or conventional attack.
• Signing the TPNW is the best assurance mechanism that AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines will not become a precursor to any future Australian nuclear weapons ambitions.

IS AUSTRALIA CURRENTLY COMPLIANT WITH THE TPNW?

• No, by claiming protection under the US nuclear arsenal in our defence posture Australia is breaching Article 1(e) of the TPNW, by encouraging the possession and potential use of nuclear weapons.
• Australia would also be in breach if it assisted another country to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons with targeting information.

WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE FOR AUSTRALIA TO BECOME COMPLIANT?

• Australia must cease claiming protection from the US nuclear arsenal in public statements and defence policies.
• Australia must ensure that joint defence facilities such as Pine Gap would not involve Australian assistance with the targeting or use of a nuclear weapon.

WHO ELSE SUPPORTS IT?

• Currently 111 federal parliamentarians have signed the Parliamentary Pledge to work for Australia to sign and ratify the treaty, including almost 80% of the Labor caucus.
• Over 280 current state and territory parliamentarians.
• Over 60 faith-based organisations.
• A wide range of civil society organisations including the Australian Local Government Association, Australian Medical Association, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, ACTU, Australian Red Cross.
• 55 former Australian Ambassadors and High Commissioners.
• 43 local councils.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

• Labor should reaffirm its commitment to sign and ratify the treaty and follow through by signing in this term of government. Ratification will take several years to complete but signature can and should happen speedily.
• The Australian Government should support the TPNW in international fora, including by voting in favour of resolutions that support the treaty and acknowledge the devastating humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons. Australia should attend the Second Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW in Nov/Dec 2023 at the UN in New York as an observer, and either sign beforehand or announce its intention to sign at this forum.

FRINGE EVENT AND VR EXPERIENCE AT CONFERENCE

• ICAN is hosting a Fringe event Labor and the nuclear weapon ban treaty at the National Conference on Friday 18 August at 2-3pm, with Josh Wilson MP, Linda Scott (ALGA), Imogen Sturni (ASU), Melissa Parke and Robert Tickner (both former Labor Ministers and ICAN Ambassadors).
• The incredible Virtual Reality experience On the Morning You Wake (to the end of the world) will be available at the ICAN stall throughout the conference.