In a new video released today, members of the Parliamentary Friends of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons renew their support for Australia joining the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Their joint message demonstrates how parliamentarians from across the political spectrum are working together to see the Treaty signed and ratified.
Featured in the video are Susan Templeman MP (ALP), Member for Macquarie, Jordan, Steele-John (GRN), Senator for Western Australia, Monique Ryan MP (IND), Member for Kooyong, Russell Broadbent (IND), Member for Monash, Sam Lim MP (ALP), Member for Tangney, Louise Pratt (ALP), Senator for Western Australia, Lidia Thorpe (IND), Senator for Victoria, Sharon Claydon MP (ALP), Member for Newcastle, Josh Burns MP (ALP), Member for Macnamara, and Josh Wilson MP (ALP), Member for Fremantle.
In the video, they state: “The TPNW is giving countries and citizens across the world hope, and a new and promising pathway towards the abolition of these weapons. […] It’s about continuing Australian leadership when it comes to nuclear disarmament. It’s about working with our closest neighbours and collaborating with our Pacific family. It’s about recognising and supporting victims of nuclear weapons testing. For First Nations survivors, for Australia’s nuclear veterans.”
In response to the video, Jemila Rushton, Acting Director for ICAN Australia said: “Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have today reaffirmed that they are ‘working together to see the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty signed and ratified’.
“In these times of incredible global insecurity, this joint message of hope demonstrates that leaders can come together across party lines to address the critical existential issues of our time.
“We now need to see this hope turned into action and the TPNW signed without delay. The Labor Party has committed to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in government. Today’s video release demonstrates that support in the parliament for Australia to join this treaty continues to grow. Now is the time to act.
“Banning nuclear weapons, the worst of the weapons of mass destruction, has always been an issue that is beyond party politics. ICAN Australia will continue to work alongside parliamentarians in Government, in Opposition and on the crossbench until the TPNW is signed and ratified.
In the video, they state:
Today, 93 countries around the world are signatories to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – the TPNW.
They are signed up to the legally-binding commitment to comprehensively ban nuclear weapons.
Developing them, testing them, producing them, assisting with them, possessing them, threatening to use them, and using them are banned.
The TPNW is giving countries and citizens across the world hope, and a new and promising pathway towards the abolition of these weapons.
It’s about understanding that what we cannot prepare for and what we can adequately respond to, we must prevent.
It’s about continuing Australian leadership when it comes to nuclear disarmament.
It’s about working with our closest neighbours and collaborating with our Pacific family.
It’s about recognising and supporting victims of nuclear weapons testing. For First Nations survivors, for Australia’s nuclear veterans.
As members of the Australian Parliamentary Friends of the TPNW, we are working together to see the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty signed and ratified.
We are proud of our country’s commitment to getting rid of other inhumane weapons, like landmines, cluster munitions, biological, and chemical weapons.
We welcome Australia’s engagement with the TPNW under the Albanese Government and we pay tribute to the community activism being undertaken in support of Australia joining this treaty.
History is calling.
Media inquiries: Jesse Boylan: 0457 777 504 – jesse@icanw.org