MEDIA RELEASE: First Nations atomic survivors and civil society organisations call on the Australian government to sign the nuclear weapon ban treaty, seventy years after the first Emu Field atomic test.

Today is the 70th anniversary of the first nuclear weapon test on mainland Australia at Emu Field, South Australia, on Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands.

On October 15th, 1953, the British Government—with the willing support of the Australian government of the day—tested a 10kt atomic bomb, codenamed Totem I. Not only did the operation fail to seek consent from the Anangu people, but the resulting radioactive “black mist” fallout had harmful environmental, health and social outcomes that persist today.

In the wake of the Voice referendum, it’s important to prioritise the voices and calls for justice of First Nations people and other nuclear survivors. 

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Australia (ICAN) has today  released a civil society statement, co-drafted by Karina Lester (Yankunytjatjara Anangu woman and second generation survivor of the Emu Field nuclear tests) to mark the anniversary and urge the Australian government to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The statement has been signed by more than 130 civil society organisations, including the Australian Red Cross, Public Health Association of Australia, Health Services Union, Oxfam and Catholic Religious Australia. 

The statement outlines the escalating threat of nuclear weapons use, which is “exacerbated by war, regional conflicts and a changing geopolitical climate. The continued possession of nuclear weapons by nine nations poses grave humanitarian, human rights and major climate risks. Use of even a small portion of global nuclear stockpiles would cause nuclear winter, agricultural collapse and catastrophic harm to life on this planet.”

The statement calls on Australia to demonstrate its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament by joining the TPNW.

Karina Lester’s late father, Yami Lester, was blinded because of the tests at Emu Field, and Karina carries his story as well as her grandmother’s story about the impacts of the tests on her people.

“Today is a very emotional day for my family. We carry the pain of what happened to my family and community as a result of those tests. Our communities are still suffering the health impacts from radiation poisoning.

“This has been a generational journey for us, and a generational story of talking about the traumas and the suffering and the scars that have been left not only on our traditional lands, on Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara country, but also in Western Australia as well. Our stories are stories that have been passed on from generation to generation. They’re sad stories, but they’re true stories. This is about truth-telling, and this is our story. 

“This is why I am urging the Australian government to sign and ratify the TPNW, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to do when in government. They must listen to First Nations voices who never want to see these most destructive, indiscriminate weapons ever be used again”

The statement argues that the TPNW “is the first treaty to set out a clear direction for the total elimination of nuclear weapons and to provide a framework for supporting survivors of nuclear weapons use, including the remediation of impacted environments. It is supported by the vast majority of our Pacific and South-East Asian neighbours.”

It says: “Seventy years on from the first mainland nuclear explosion, let us put an end to any involvement with nuclear weapons, now and forever.”

Additional material: 

• Civil Society Statement and list of endorsers.
• More information about the humanitarian and environmental impacts of nuclear weapons use in Australia. 

A promise that now needs to be progressed: Labor re-commits to signing treaty banning nuclear weapons

18th August, 2023

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) welcomes the reaffirmation of Labor’s commitment to sign and ratify the landmark Treaty on the Prohibition Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), but regrets that no timeline has yet been given for acting on this long standing party pledge.

At its national conference in Brisbane, Labor reaffirmed its commitment to join the TPNW, which was first agreed by the party in 2018 at the initiative of Anthony Albanese, who said at the time that it represented “Labor at our best”.

The reformulated policy, approved by conference delegates on Friday: 

• Reaffirms Labor’s commitment to sign and ratify the TPNW in government, after taking account of three matters.
• Commits Labor to consider steps on assistance for affected communities and environmental remediation in relation to the British nuclear tests in Australia, and nuclear testing in the Pacific, consistent with Articles 6 and 7 of the TPNW.
• Welcomes the positive steps that have been taken by the Labor Government to engage with the TPNW, including by attending the First Meeting of States Parties and ending Australia’s opposition to the treaty at the UN First Committee in 2022.

Federal member for Fremantle Josh Wilson MP moved the amendment, saying Labor’s updated policy “demonstrates that Labor values the TPNW and takes it seriously as a new and promising form of international agreement that seeks to shift the otherwise dangerous status quo on nuclear weapons.” 

At an event hosted by ICAN, Wilson confirmed that Australia will attend the Second Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW from 27 Nov – 1 Dec 2023 at the UN in New York.

“We welcome this reaffirmation of Labor’s longstanding commitment, but it’s not enough to keep promising to sign the treaty without acting. We want to see the Prime Minister put pen to paper, without delay. Labor’s commitment on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation will be hollow if Australia fails to do so,” said ICAN International’s newly appointed Executive Director, Melissa Parke, a former Labor MP for the federal seat of Fremantle.

“Signing the TPNW is especially important given regional concerns about Australia’s acquisition of nuclear attack submarines under the AUKUS partnership with the United States and United Kingdom, which have nuclear arsenals,” said Parke. “The TPNW would prevent current and future Australian governments from engaging in or assisting with nuclear-weapon-related activities in any way.”

“Australia has a proud history of championing nuclear disarmament – Labor has a proud history of championing nuclear disarmament,” Parke said. “It’s time for the Australian government to honour our history, as well as our future, and sign the nuclear weapons ban treaty.”