The ICAN Cities Appeal was endorsed Benalla Rural City Council on 22 May, 2019.

MOTION

Moved by Cr Firth and Cr Upston:

1.     That the Council endorses the International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Cities Appeal:

“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. Therefore, we warmly welcome the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by the United Nations in 2017, and we call on our national government to sign and ratify it without delay.”

2.     That the Mayor write to the Australian Prime Minister, relevant Australian Government ministers and the Federal Member for Indi ad

Carried.

FURTHER ACTION

2020: Benalla Rural City Council submitted a motion in support of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA)  for discussion at the 2020 National General Assembly.

In August 2020, after receiving submissions from local councils across the nation, the Australian Local Government Association board wrote to the Senator the Hon. Marise Payne Minister for Foreign Affairs with a message: Councils urge the Australian Government to sign and ratify the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.