CITIES APPEAL:

Yarra, VIC

The ICAN Cities Appeal was endorsed unanimously by the City of Yarra on 18 December, 2018.

MOTION

 

1. That in the matter of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), originally established in Australia in 2007 and awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for their ground-breaking efforts to achieve a global treaty for the prohibition of nuclear weapons, Council:

  1. (a)  congratulate ICAN on their historic achievement and contribution toward global nuclear disarmament;
  2. (b)  endorse the ICAN Cities Appeal which states that:”Our city 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 2018, and we call on our national government to sign and ratify it without delay”; and
  3. (c)  request the Mayor to write to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, calling for the Federal Government to sign and ratify the Treaty on behalf of the Australian people.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Image: Mayor of Yarra (2018/19) Danae Bosler with the ICAN Nobel Peace Prize flag at the City of Yarra council chamber.

 

 

FURTHER ACTION

 

2020: Australian Local Government Association

The City of Yarra 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.

2021: Councillor Roundtable

Mayor Gabrielle de Vietri attended a special Councillors Roundtable hosted by ICAN Australia to celebreate the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in March 2021.

2025: Yarra commemorates 80th anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

On Tuesday July 8th, 2025 Yarra City Council (VIC) unianimously passed a commemorative motion which acknowedged the 80th anniversaries of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and reaffirmed its support for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

Mayor Stephen Jolly moved that Council:

1. Acknowledges the 80th anniversaries of the US atomic bombings of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th and 9th, 1945 and honours the 210,000+ victims of these attacks, and the Hibakusha and Hibaku Nisei, who continue to live with the legacy of nuclear weapons.

2. Notes that Council is deeply concerned about the grave threat that nuclear weapons pose to communities throughout the world and believe that our community has the right to live in a world free from this threat.

3. Notes that any use of nuclear weapons, whether deliberate or accidental, would have catastrophic, far‐reaching and long‐lasting consequences for people and the environment.

4. Reaffirms its 2018 endorsement of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Cities Appeal, a global call from cities and towns in support of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and calls on the Federal government to sign and ratify it without delay.

Carried unanimously.

The City of Yarra also released a media release announcing its reaffirmed commitment to the ICAN Cities Appeal and the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

     

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