The ICAN Cities Appeal was endorsed by Wyndham City Council, Victoria, on Wednesday 22nd March, 2022.

MOTION

1. Recognise the 2017 United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The first treaty to comprehensively outlaw nuclear weapons and provide a pathway for their elimination. This Treaty entered into force on 22 January 2021. All national governments are invited to sign and ratify the treaty.
2. Commemorate this achievement of global diplomacy by endorsing the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons ‘Cities Appeal’, which reads: “Our city/town is deeply concerned about the grave threat that nuclear weapons pose to communities throughout the world. We firmly believe that our residents have the right to live in a world free from this threat. Any use of nuclear weapons, whether deliberate or accidental, would have catastrophic, far‐reaching and long‐lasting consequences for people and the environment.”
   
3. Write to the Office of the Prime Minister informing them of our resolution and to call on the Federal Government to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons 2021 without delay.

The ICAN Cities Appeal was endorsed by Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Victoria, on Wednesday 25th August, 2021.

MOTION

1. Puts on record its deep concern about the grave threat that nuclear weapons pose to communities throughout the world. Council firmly believes that our residents have the right to live in a world free from this threat. Any use of nuclear weapons, whether deliberate or accidental, would have catastrophic, far‐ reaching and long‐lasting consequences for people and the environment.

2. Welcomes the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by the United Nations in 2017.

3. Requests the Mayor write to Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to call on Australia to sign and ratify the Treaty without delay.

4. Requests the Chief Executive Officer to issue a media release announcing that Council has joined the call for the Federal Government to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

5. Directs that the Chief Executive Officer must initiate a review of Council’s investment in a financial institution if it is brought to the Chief Executive Officer’s attention that financial institution invests in the production of nuclear weapons.

6. Recognises the ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons) Cities for Peace Appeal and acknowledges the large number of cities and shires across Australia that have committed to this appeal.

The ICAN Cities Appeal was endorsed by The City of Ryde, New South Wales, on Tuesday 24th August, 2021.

MOTION

(a) That Council notes with deep concern the grave threat that nuclear weapons pose to communities throughout the world.

(b) That Council recognises that the residents of the City of Ryde have the right to live in a world free from this threat and that any use of nuclear weapons, whether deliberate or accidental, would have catastrophic, far reaching and long-lasting consequences for people and the environment.

(c) That Council therefore warmly welcomes the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by the United Nations in 2017, which entered into force in January 2021, and calls upon the Australian Government to sign and ratify it as a humanitarian imperative.

(d) That Council endorses the unanimous resolution of the 2021 National General Assembly of the Australian Local Government Association (seconded by the City of Ryde) which calls upon the Federal Government to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

The ICAN Cities Appeal was endorsed by Bayside Council, Victoria, on Tuesday 20th July, 2021.

MOTION

1. Expresses its deep concern regarding the threat that nuclear weapons pose to communities throughout the world, and Council firmly believes that our residents have the right to live in a world free from this threat. Any use of nuclear weapons, whether deliberate or accidental, would have catastrophic, far-reaching and long- lasting consequences for people and the environment.
2. Supports and adopts the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by the United Nations in 2017, and calls on our Federal Government to sign and ratify it without delay
3. Writes to the ICAN Cities Appeal indicating Council’s support and adoption of the Treaty to abolish Nuclear Weapons
4. Writes to the Foreign Affairs Minister, and the local Federal member of parliament advising of Council’s support to the Treaty
5. Issues a media release announcing that Bayside City Council has joined the call for the Federal Government to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
6. Takes steps to ensure that funds administered by Bayside City Council are not invested in companies that produce nuclear weapons, with reference to the information available at www.dontbankonthebomb.com

The ICAN Cities Appeal was endorsed by the Shoalhaven City Council on 27 April 2021.

MOTION

Seconded By Councillor Bob Proudfoot, and CARRIED.

Other councillors speaking to the motion mentioned:

“We are the peoples’ government. When it comes to nuclear weapons we must remind ourselves, it’s the people that run this planet, not the politicians.” Cr Bob Proudfoot.

“Things change, and it needs to start at ground level.” Cr Mitchell Pakes.

ICAN Australia commends the efforts of Unions Shoalhaven, and local residents Patricia, Kerry, Akira, Jeff and Helen Calidicott for your local campaigning! 

The ICAN Cities Appeal was endorsed by the City of Prospect on 19 January 2021.

MOTION

Councillor Allan Harris moved That Council resolves to:

(1) Acknowledge the correspondence from Mr Steve Georganas MP, Federal Member for Adelaide, seeking Council support on this matter in advance of the formal enforcement of the Treaty to occur on 22 January 2021.

(2) Acknowledge it has a role and responsibility to protect its community and the wider public from the threat posed by nuclear weapons.

(3) Express its concern for the detrimental consequences at a global level resulting from, inter alia, the production, transport and storage of nuclear weapons; posing an unacceptable threat internationally.

(4) Support the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by the Australian Commonwealth Government and requests its official signing and ratification of the Treaty.

(5) Write to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the Australian Prime Minister, the Federal Defence and Foreign Ministers, Portfolio Shadow Ministers, all other Federal Members of Parliament (House of Representatives) and the Premier of South Australia, who also holds the portfolio of Minister of Defence, Space Industry for SA and the SA Branch of the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network providing a copy of this motion and its call for the Commonwealth Government to sign and ratify the Treaty without delay

Seconded By Councillor Alison de Backer, and CARRIED unanimously.

FURTHER ACTIONS

2021: Mayor David O’Loughlin attended a special Councillors Roundtable hosted by ICAN Australia to celebreate the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weaposns in March 2021.

Screenshots of councilors attending an online Councilor Roundtable in March 2021.