The City of Newcastle reaffirmed its long-held commitment to declaring the city a Nuclear Free Zone. It followed a Lord Mayoral Minute supported by City of Newcastle councillors in June, acknowledging the City’s long standing history with local, national and international peace movements, dating back to 29 June 1982 when the City first declared Newcastle a Nuclear Free Zone under Lord Mayor Joy Cummings AM, and resolving to establish with Hunter Peace Group a dedicated Newcastle Peace Park at Tighes Hill Reserve, adjacent to Islington Park.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City of Newcastle was proud to support these efforts as a progressive city.

“The City of Newcastle has a long and proud history of activism against nuclear weapons, particularly as a city with a large working port. Former Newcastle Lord Mayor Joy Cummings was a passionate advocate for the peace movement, inspiring strong community support and joining with Hunter Peace Group, trade unionists and activists to hold demonstrations on the importance of nuclear disarmament and protecting Newcastle as a Nuclear Free City and port. I am honoured to uphold that mission today on behalf of the City, in which there is no place for nuclear weapons in modern society.”

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Image: ICAN Australia  flag is flown alongside the Hunter Peace Group flag in the City of Newcastle to mark the 76th anniversaries of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

On Tuesday 22nd July 2025, the City of Newcastle (NSW) passed a commemorative motion which acknowedged the 80th anniversaries of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and reaffirmed its commitment to being a nuclear free zone, and reaffirmed its support for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

Councillors Charlotte McCabe, Joel Pringle, Declan Clausen, Deahnna Richardson, Elizabeth Adamczyk, Paige Johnson, Peta Winney-Baartz, Peter Gittins, Mark Brooker and Ross Kerridge moved

That City of Newcastle:
PART A
1. Commemorates the 80th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, and honours the memory of the more than 210,000 people who perished as a result of these attacks. We pay tribute to the Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) and Hibakunisei (second-generation survivors), and acknowledge the enduring impact of nuclear weapons on human lives, health, and the environment.
2. Affirms that nuclear weapons continue to pose an unacceptable threat to humanity and our shared environment. Council expresses deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian and ecological consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, whether by design, accident or miscalculation.
3. Reiterates that all people, including those in our local Newcastle community, have the right to live in a world free from the threat of nuclear annihilation.

PART B
4. Reiterates the City of Newcastle’s long-standing commitment as a Nuclear Free Zone, first declared in June 1982 by Lord Mayor Joy Cummings, and reaffirmed by the Council in 2021.
5. Notes that the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, was founded in Australia and has played a pivotal role in promoting the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
6. Recognises that Council unanimously endorsed ICAN’s Cities Appeal in February 2019, a global initiative for cities, towns and local governments to show support for the TPNW.
7. Recognises that Council submitted a motion in support of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) in 2020, which led to unanimous support. The ALGA board then wrote to the then Foreign Minister, the Hon Marise Payne, encouraging the Australian Government to sign the TPNW, with the message: Councils urge the Australian Government to sign and ratify the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
8. Notes that the City of Newcastle is also part of the Mayors for Peace network, established by the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

PART C
9. Writes to the Prime Minister expressing its support for the Treaty and urging the Australian Government to continue progress towards signing and ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
10. Acknowledges the official unveiling of Newcastle’s Peace Park in Tighes Hill in 2023, with interpretative signage in line with the 2021 LMM commitment.
11. Works with the Hunter Peace Group to include an appropriate statement in the Tighes Hill Peace Park, acknowledging the long-standing commitment that the City of Newcastle has as a Nuclear Free City.
12. Holds a flag raising ceremony of the Hunter Peace Group and ICAN flags in Civic Park on the 6th of August and promotes this through Council’s social media channels.
13. Notes that the Hunter Peace Group will be commemorating the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Saturday 9th August, 11:00am-2:00pm at the Tighes Hill Peace Park.

Carried