The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), has called on the Australian government to urgently advance the signature of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) to address growing nuclear dangers.

The call follows last night’s ABC Four Corners investigation “Trading Fire” which highlighted elevated dangers in Australia as hosting US nuclear-capable platforms and supplying minerals that can facilitate nuclear weapons is making Australia a high probability target. 

Gem Romuld, Director of ICAN Australia, said:

“The ABC has put this issue on the national radar. The government needs to lift the veil of secrecy about what’s going on and require our nuclear-armed AUKUS partners to declare whether their vessels and aircraft are nuclear-capable or carry nuclear weapons. Australians have a right to know and a right to say no. There is no place for nuclear weapons in Australia.

To stop Australia becoming a launchpad for nuclear war we must sign the Australian-born treaty that bans the bomb and could save the world.” 

ICAN was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its role in achieving the TPNW. A year later, Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles led a successful resolution committing the Australian Labor Party to sign and ratify the TPNW in government. 

However when asked whether Australia would sign and ratify the TPNW on Four Corners last night, Minister Marles said;

“What’s really clear is that the [National] Conference understands that this is a decision of government… a decision of Labor in government. And the decision that Labor has made in government has been to follow the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The NPT is at the core of Labor in government’s policy.”

Dr Tilman Ruff AO, co-founder of ICAN, said:

“Minister Marles gave the impression that the Albanese Government is walking away from Labor’s longstanding ban treaty commitment. There’s no reason Australia can’t join the TPNW as well as the NPT. It can, should and must.” 

Government sources have subsequently reassured ICAN that Minister Marles’ comments do not represent a change in its policy and approach to the nuclear weapon ban treaty.

Josh Wilson, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, and Labor co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapon, spoke at the group’s first event of this Parliamentary term on Monday night. He said:

“The government’s position hasn’t changed. We continue to actively support disarmament and non-proliferation measures as part of our commitment to a world without nuclear weapons, and Australia recognises and values the contribution that the TPNW has made to that vital cause in terms of global focus and momentum. The Albanese government has engaged as an observer with the TPNW process, and continues to consider how the TPNW can interact with and reinforce foundation agreements like the NPT.”

Tilman Ruff said “Minister Marles is significantly out of step with his own party and platform. Hundreds of Labor parliamentarians, branches and dozens of unions back joining the treaty, as have three ALP national conferences.

As Australia pursues nuclear-fuelled submarines under AUKUS, it is essential that we send a clear message to our nation, our region and the world that nuclear weapons are a red line. We call for the government to set a timeline for the signature of the TPNW in this term of parliament.”