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Labor branch support

Support for nuclear disarmament has deep roots in the Australian Labor Party. The legacy of Labor peace activists like Tom Uren endures, from Labor’s role in ratifying the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1973, to implementing the Canberra Commission in 1995, through to the leadership of one of the Treaty’s strongest supporters, Anthony Albanese.

Labor first committed to signing and ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) at its National Conference in 2018, reaffirming that commitment in 2021. It’s not only the leadership and federal parliamentarians that back the ban, many state, territory and local Labor branches have considered the issue and passed motions declaring their support and calling for Australia to join the treaty without delay.

LOCAL BRANCHES

The following local branches have passed motions supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and calling upon the Australian Government to sign and ratify it without delay. Many call for Labor to do so within their first term of government. Please see below for a model branch motion, and contact us if you are interested in inviting an ICAN speaker to address your branch or other community group.

Ashfield, NSW | May 2023

Balmain, NSW | April 2022

Berala, NSW | November 2021

Bondi, NSW | April 2022

Boothby, SA | September 2018

Bronte/Waverley, NSW | November  2021

Clovelly, NSW | February 2022

Coogee West/Randwick, NSW | November 2021

Croydon, VIC | July 2023

Dapto, NSW | July 2022

Double Bay/Bellevue Hill, NSW | October 2021, April 2023

Dulwich Hill, NSW | April 2023

Enmore/Camdenville, NSW | October 2021

Glebe, NSW | November 2021

Grayndler FEC, NSW | July 2022

Haberfield, NSW | April 2022

The Hills, NSW | July 2022

Hindmarsh, SA | November 2021

Hornsby, NSW | December 2021

Kelvin Grove/Newmarket, QLD | March 2022

Ku-Ring-Gai, NSW | November 2021

Lane Cove, NSW | March 2022 and November 2022

Leichhardt, NSW | November 2021

Macleay Valley, NSW | February 2022

Mosman, NSW | March 2022

North Sydney, NSW | November 2021

Oatley/Peakhurst, NSW | February 2022

Parramatta, NSW | June 2022

Pennant Hills, NSW | July 2022

Randwick North, NSW | February 2022

Redfern/East Redfern, NSW | November 2021

Ryde, NSW | August 2022

Stanmore/Camperdown, NSW | December 2021

Trevor Davies, NSW | November 2021

Tumbi Umbi, NSW | February 2022

Westmead, NSW | December 2021


NEW SOUTH WALES LABOR

Statement from NSW Labor, 24 February 2023

Election 2023 – Survey Response – ICAN (Abolish Nuclear Weapons)

NSW Labor supports the Albanese Government’s position to sign and ratify the Ban Treaty.

Labor is committed to acting with urgency and determination to rid the world of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons. Labor will build on Australia’s strong history of leading international action by working with our partners and allies to build consensus for action, negotiate new treaties and instruments, and promote adherence to and implementation of existing treaties and instruments.

Click here for the statement.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LABOR

Resolution of SA Labor Conference, 12 October 2019

Following the commitment by Federal Labor to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons when in government, ALP SA urges Federal Labor to begin discussions now on resolving issues relating to Australia joining the Treaty and to consult closely with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), with a view to Australia signing the Treaty as soon as possible.

ALP SA believes that Labor should be active in seeking nuclear disarmament worldwide and should unconditionally rule out Australia acquiring nuclear weapons or basing nuclear weapons on Australian territory.

Moved: Amanda Rishworth MP

TASMANIAN LABOR

Resolution of Tasmanian Labor Conference, September 2018

Tasmanian Labor congratulates the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), first established in Australia, for their work on the development of a Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty and for being the recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.

Tasmanian Labor shares with ICAN deep concerns about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would result from any use of nuclear weapons, and we recognise the urgent need to rid the world of these abhorrent and immoral weapons.

We believe Australia joining the nuclear ban treaty is an essential step on the path towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

This State Conference therefore:

  • Calls on Federal Labor to make a firm commitment to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons when Labor next forms government.
  • Calls on all delegates to the 2018 ALP National Conference to affirm this commitment in our National Platform.
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN LABOR

Resolution of WA Labor Conference, 2 October 2021

Notes the unacceptable risk posed by more than 13,000 nuclear weapons held between 9 countries. This risk is increased by policies that lower the threshold for use and massive spending on nuclear weapons, even during a global pandemic.

  • Notes the devastating humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons.
  • Welcomes the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 22 January 2021, making nuclear weapons illegal under international law.
  • Commends the federal Australian Labor Party’s platform and policy position to sign and ratify the treaty in government, made in December 2018 and reaffirmed in March 2021.
  • Urges the Australian Government to commit Australia to attending the first meeting of states parties in Vienna in 2022.
  • Calls upon the current Australian Government to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons without delay.
  • Urges federal Labor to commit to consider, sign and ratify the Treaty in the first term of an elected Federal Labor Government.

Moved: Josh Wilson MP / Seconded: Steve McCartney (AMWU)

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Resolution of WA Labor Conference, 25 August 2019

WA Labor welcomes the resolution passed unanimously by the 2018 National Labor Conference committing Labor in government to sign and ratify the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and calls on the Australian Government to sign and ratify the Treaty as an urgent humanitarian imperative.

NORTHERN TERRITORY LABOR

Resolution of NT Labor Conference, October 2019

Preamble:  Nuclear weapons are the most destructive, inhumane and indiscriminate weapons ever created.  A commitment to sign and ratify the nuclear ban treaty would be true leadership and Labor at its best.

Motion: 

  1. That this conference asks the next Labor National Conference to reaffirm its commitment to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition on Nuclear Weapons immediately upon taking up government.
  2. That this conference requests that the current Australian Government signs the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as a matter of urgency.

Moved: Judy Buckley / Seconded: Bob Durnan

VICTORIAN LABOR

Resolution of Victorian Labor Conference, June 2023

Victorian Labor State Conference 2023 resolves that it:
  • Notes the deeply concerning risk that nuclear weapons will be used, either by accident or design, by one or more of the 9 nuclear-armed states.
  • Notes that the use of just one nuclear weapon, of any size, would impose catastrophic and long-term humanitarian impacts.
  • Notes Labor’s long-standing commitment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
  • Welcomes the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and Labor’s commitment to sign and ratify it in government.
  • Commends the Labor Government for attending the first Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW as an observer, and ending Australia’s opposition to the treaty at the UN First Committee in 2022.
  • Urges the Federal Labor Government to sign the TPNW in this term of government, with ratification to follow soon after.

Moved by Nina Taylor MP, seconded by Imogen Sturni (ASU).

 

Resolution of Victorian Labor Conference, November 2019

Victoria and the Australian Labor Party Victorian Branch have a proud nuclear-free history. The passage of the Nuclear Activities (Prohibitions) Act 1983 by the Cain Labor Government sets out important safeguards against our state‟s involvement in the nuclear fuel cycle. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was founded in Melbourne, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017. This legacy must be preserved.

That State Conference resolves that:

  • Nuclear power has no place in our energy mix;
  • It does not support the establishment of any nuclear power plants in Victoria or Australia; and
  • The provisions of the Nuclear Activities (Prohibitions) Act 1983 (Vic) should be preserved; and
  • Federal Labor begin discussion on resolving issues relating to Australia joining the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Moved: Andrew Giles MP / Seconded: Ryan Batchelor

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY LABOR

Resolution of ACT Labor Conference, July 2019

Conference congratulates the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), first established in Australia, for their work on the development of a Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty and for being the recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. 

Conference shares with ICAN deep concerns about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would result from any use of nuclear weapons, and we recognise the urgent need to rid the world of these abhorrent and immoral weapons. We consider the abolition of nuclear weapons to be a global public good of the highest order. 

Australia joining the nuclear ban treaty is an essential step on the path towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

Conference urges Federal Labor to make a firm commitment to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons when Labor next forms government. 

Moved: Alex White