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Australia
Nuclear-weapon endorser
Has not yet joined the TPNW
Summary
Australia has not yet signed or ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. It supports the retention and potential use of US nuclear weapons on its behalf, as indicated in various policy statements, including its defence white paper of 2016 and foreign policy white paper of 2017.
ICAN campaigners protest on the roof of the Australian foreign ministry building in Canberra on 20 September 2017, the day the treaty opened for signature. Credit: ICAN
National position
Australia has consistently voted against an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that welcomes the adoption of the treaty and calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to it “at the earliest possible date”. According to the website of the Australian foreign ministry, joining the treaty “would be inconsistent with our US alliance obligations”.
Political developments
Although the current Liberal–National government of Australia has said that it will not support the treaty because it “seeks to delegitimise extended deterrence”, the main opposition political party, the Australian Labor Party, adopted a resolution in 2018 committing it to sign and ratify the treaty in government.
Anthony Albanese, who proposed the resolution and now leads the party, said: “Our commitment to sign and ratify the nuclear weapon ban treaty in government is Labor at its best.” The party welcomed the 50th ratification of the treaty on 24 October 2020 and reiterated its commitment to sign and ratify it in government.
Most Labor parliamentarians have also individually pledged to work in support of Australia’s signature and ratification of the treaty, as have parliamentarians from the Australian Greens and other parties. A cross-party parliamentary friendship group was established in 2020 to promote adherence to the treaty.
The councils of several Australian cities, including Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney, have called on the Australian government to sign and ratify the treaty.
Labor parliamentarians, including the current leader Anthony Albanese, hold a copy of the treaty at parliament house in Canberra in 2018. Credit: Martin Ollman
Public opinion
A public opinion poll conducted by Ipsos in 2018 found that 79 per cent of Australians believe that their government should sign the treaty, with 8 per cent opposed to signing and 13 per cent undecided.
Treaty negotiations
Australia did not participate in the negotiation of the treaty at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and thus did not vote on its adoption. On the opening day of the negotiating conference, it joined the United States and several other states in protesting the treaty-making process.
In 2016, Australia voted against the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.
Earlier that year, it had attempted to derail a UN working group on nuclear disarmament in Geneva, which adopted a report recommending that negotiations commence on the treaty. Australia said that it could not accept the draft report and forced it to a vote.
ICAN campaigners protest at Australia’s diplomatic mission in Geneva during a UN working group on nuclear disarmament in 2016. Photo: ICAN
Nuclear testing in Australia
From 1952 to 1963, the British government, with the active involvement of the Australian government, conducted 12 nuclear test explosions and up to 600 so-called “minor trials” in the South Australian desert and off the Western Australian coast.
Radioactive contamination from the tests and trials was detected across much of the continent. Little was done to protect the 16,000 or so test site workers, and even less to protect nearby Aboriginal communities.
Two representatives of those communities, Sue Coleman-Haseldine and Karina Lester, testified at the treaty negotiations in 2017 about the devastating long-term harm from the tests. In large part due to their advocacy, the preamble to the treaty recognises “the disproportionate impact of nuclear-weapon activities on indigenous peoples”.
Sue Coleman-Haseldine, a Kokatha elder and nuclear test survivor, with ICAN’s Nobel Peace Prize medal in 2018. Credit: Martin Ollman
Founding of ICAN
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was founded in Australia in 2007 with the goal of prohibiting and eliminating nuclear weapons via a new international treaty. The founders assembled a broad coalition of organisations to work together to build a global groundswell of public opposition to nuclear weapons.
ICAN campaigners in Melbourne, Australia, celebrate the announcement of ICAN’s Nobel peace prize in 2017.
Nuclear-weapon endorser
Has not yet joined the TPNW
[HIGHLIGHTS]
Summary
Australia has not yet signed or ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. It supports the retention and potential use of US nuclear weapons on its behalf, as indicated in various policy statements, including its defence white paper of 2016 and foreign policy white paper of 2017.
ICAN campaigners protest on the roof of the Australian foreign ministry building in Canberra on 20 September 2017, the day the treaty opened for signature. Credit: ICAN
National position
Australia has consistently voted against an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that welcomes the adoption of the treaty and calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to it “at the earliest possible date”. According to the website of the Australian foreign ministry, joining the treaty “would be inconsistent with our US alliance obligations”.
Political developments
Although the current Liberal–National government of Australia has said that it will not support the treaty because it “seeks to delegitimise extended deterrence”, the main opposition political party, the Australian Labor Party, adopted a resolution in 2018 committing it to sign and ratify the treaty in government.
Anthony Albanese, who proposed the resolution and now leads the party, said: “Our commitment to sign and ratify the nuclear weapon ban treaty in government is Labor at its best.” The party welcomed the 50th ratification of the treaty on 24 October 2020 and reiterated its commitment to sign and ratify it in government.
Most Labor parliamentarians have also individually pledged to work in support of Australia’s signature and ratification of the treaty, as have parliamentarians from the Australian Greens and other parties. A cross-party parliamentary friendship group was established in 2020 to promote adherence to the treaty.
The councils of several Australian cities, including Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney, have called on the Australian government to sign and ratify the treaty.
Labor parliamentarians, including the current leader Anthony Albanese, hold a copy of the treaty at parliament house in Canberra in 2018. Credit: Martin Ollman
Public opinion
A public opinion poll conducted by Ipsos in 2018 found that 79 per cent of Australians believe that their government should sign the treaty, with 8 per cent opposed to signing and 13 per cent undecided.
Treaty negotiations
Australia did not participate in the negotiation of the treaty at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and thus did not vote on its adoption. On the opening day of the negotiating conference, it joined the United States and several other states in protesting the treaty-making process.
In 2016, Australia voted against the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.
Earlier that year, it had attempted to derail a UN working group on nuclear disarmament in Geneva, which adopted a report recommending that negotiations commence on the treaty. Australia said that it could not accept the draft report and forced it to a vote.
ICAN campaigners protest at Australia’s diplomatic mission in Geneva during a UN working group on nuclear disarmament in 2016. Photo: ICAN
Nuclear testing in Australia
From 1952 to 1963, the British government, with the active involvement of the Australian government, conducted 12 nuclear test explosions and up to 600 so-called “minor trials” in the South Australian desert and off the Western Australian coast.
Radioactive contamination from the tests and trials was detected across much of the continent. Little was done to protect the 16,000 or so test site workers, and even less to protect nearby Aboriginal communities.
Two representatives of those communities, Sue Coleman-Haseldine and Karina Lester, testified at the treaty negotiations in 2017 about the devastating long-term harm from the tests. In large part due to their advocacy, the preamble to the treaty recognises “the disproportionate impact of nuclear-weapon activities on indigenous peoples”.
Sue Coleman-Haseldine, a Kokatha elder and nuclear test survivor, with ICAN’s Nobel Peace Prize medal in 2018. Credit: Martin Ollman
Founding of ICAN
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was founded in Australia in 2007 with the goal of prohibiting and eliminating nuclear weapons via a new international treaty. The founders assembled a broad coalition of organisations to work together to build a global groundswell of public opposition to nuclear weapons.
ICAN campaigners in Melbourne, Australia, celebrate the announcement of ICAN’s Nobel peace prize in 2017.
[PARTNERS]
Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement
Act for Peace
Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia
Anglican Diocese of Gippsland
Architects for Peace
Arid Lands Environment Centre
Association of Women Educators (AWE)
Australian Catholic Social Justice Council
Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
The Australian Conservation Foundation
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
Australian Democrats
Australian Education Union (Victoria)
Australia Education Union
Australian Federation of Graduate Women
Australian Greens
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (Victoria)
Australian Nuclear Free Alliance
Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation
Australian Peace Committee
Australian Student Environment Network (ASEN)
The Baptist Union of Victoria
Beyond Nuclear Initiative
Canberra Region Anti-Nuclear Campaign
Catholics in Coalition for Justice and Peace
The Campaign for International Co-operation and Disarmament
Climate Landcare Environment Action Network
Conservation Council of the South East Region and Canberra
Conservation Council of South Australia
Council of Australian Humanist Societies
Dulwich Centre Foundation
Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education
Footprints for Peace
Fremantle Anti-Nuclear Group
Friends of the Earth (Australia)
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Householders' Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Inc.
Human Survival Project
Hunter Peace Group
ICAN Australia
Independent and Peaceful Australia Network
International Volunteers for Peace Incorporated
Just Peace Old Inc
The Maritime Union of Australia (Victorian Branch)
Marrickville Peace Group
Medical Association for Prevention of War
The National Tertiary Education Union
Network of Immigration and Refugee Women of Australia
Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre
No Waste Alliance
Oxfam Australia
Pax Christi Australia
People for Nuclear Disarmament
Presse
Psychologists for Peace
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Union (Victoria Branch, Rail Division)
SafeGround
The Search Foundation
Social Policy Connections
Social Responsibilities Commission, Anglican Province of Western Australia
Soka Gakkai International, Australia
Spirit of Eureka
Student Pugwash Australia
Sunshine Coast Environment Council
UnionsACT
Unions Western Australia
United Nations Association of Australia
United Nations Youth Australia
Uniting Church of Australia (Vic/Tas Synod), Justice and International Mission Unit
Uniting Church in Western Australia, Social Justice Board
Uniting Church in Australia National Assembly
The Union of Australian Women (UAW)
Victorian Trades Hall Council
The Wilderness Society
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (Australia)
3CR Community Radio
Conservation Council SA Inc
Alice Springs Peace Action Think Tank (ASPATT)
Christians for Peace Newcastle
HSU Vic Branch No2 - HACSU - Health and Community Services Union
Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council
Divine Word Missionaries
Sydney Peace Foundation
Catholic Religious Australia
World Citizens Association of Australia (WCAA)
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Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement
-
Act for Peace
-
Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia
-
Anglican Diocese of Gippsland
-
Architects for Peace
-
Arid Lands Environment Centre
-
Association of Women Educators (AWE)
-
Australian Catholic Social Justice Council
-
Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
-
The Australian Conservation Foundation
-
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
-
Australian Democrats
-
Australian Education Union (Victoria)
-
Australia Education Union
-
Australian Federation of Graduate Women
-
Australian Greens
-
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (Victoria)
-
Australian Nuclear Free Alliance
-
Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation
-
Australian Peace Committee
-
Australian Student Environment Network (ASEN)
-
The Baptist Union of Victoria
-
Beyond Nuclear Initiative
-
Canberra Region Anti-Nuclear Campaign
-
Catholics in Coalition for Justice and Peace
-
The Campaign for International Co-operation and Disarmament
-
Climate Landcare Environment Action Network
-
Conservation Council of the South East Region and Canberra
-
Conservation Council of South Australia
-
Council of Australian Humanist Societies
-
Dulwich Centre Foundation
-
Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education
-
Footprints for Peace
-
Fremantle Anti-Nuclear Group
-
Friends of the Earth (Australia)
-
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
-
Householders' Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Inc.
-
Human Survival Project
-
Hunter Peace Group
-
ICAN Australia
-
Independent and Peaceful Australia Network
-
International Volunteers for Peace Incorporated
-
Just Peace Old Inc
-
The Maritime Union of Australia (Victorian Branch)
-
Marrickville Peace Group
-
Medical Association for Prevention of War
-
The National Tertiary Education Union
-
Network of Immigration and Refugee Women of Australia
-
Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre
-
No Waste Alliance
-
Oxfam Australia
-
Pax Christi Australia
-
People for Nuclear Disarmament
-
Presse
-
Psychologists for Peace
-
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
-
Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Union (Victoria Branch, Rail Division)
-
SafeGround
-
The Search Foundation
-
Social Policy Connections
-
Social Responsibilities Commission, Anglican Province of Western Australia
-
Soka Gakkai International, Australia
-
Spirit of Eureka
-
Student Pugwash Australia
-
Sunshine Coast Environment Council
-
UnionsACT
-
Unions Western Australia
-
United Nations Association of Australia
-
United Nations Youth Australia
-
Uniting Church of Australia (Vic/Tas Synod), Justice and International Mission Unit
-
Uniting Church in Western Australia, Social Justice Board
-
Uniting Church in Australia National Assembly
-
The Union of Australian Women (UAW)
-
Victorian Trades Hall Council
-
The Wilderness Society
-
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (Australia)
-
3CR Community Radio
-
Conservation Council SA Inc
-
Alice Springs Peace Action Think Tank (ASPATT)
-
Christians for Peace Newcastle
-
HSU Vic Branch No2 - HACSU - Health and Community Services Union
-
Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council
-
Divine Word Missionaries
-
Sydney Peace Foundation
-
Catholic Religious Australia
-
World Citizens Association of Australia (WCAA)