Nuclear Weapons

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (17:08): I move:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges the 75^th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which occurred on 6 and 9 August 2020, respectively;

2. Notes that the coronavirus pandemic starkly demonstrates the urgent need for greater international cooperation to address all major threats to the health and welfare of humankind, including the threat of the use of nuclear weapons;

3. Notes that close to 14,000 nuclear weapons are held between nine nations, presenting an unacceptable risk to humanity;

4. Notes the concerning trend in weakening or undermining arms control agreements by nuclear-armed states, including the Iran deal, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the Open Skies Treaty;

5. Notes the substantial progress of the 2017 UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which comprehensively outlaws nuclear weapons and provides a pathway to elimination, towards entry-into-force; and

6. Urges the Australian government to work towards signing and ratifying the TPNW, in line with our international obligations to pursue the elimination of these weapons of mass destruction.

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Even before the outbreak of war in 1939, a group of American scientists began working on developing these weapons in the fear that fascist regimes in Europe already held these types of weapons—frighteningly similar to recent times.

Throughout the period of the Second World War, these weapons were tested on American home soil and prepared for their inevitable use. By the time the first successful bomb was tested, the allied powers had already defeated Germany in Europe. Japan, however, vowed to fight to the end in the Pacific and rejected the allied demand for surrender.

Atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 August and 9 August respectively and signalled the end of Japan's involvement in World War II. Not only did these bombings have a devastating instant impact, killing between 90,000 and 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000 to 80,000 people in Nagasaki, but 300,000 survivors later died from the effects of the bombings.

Radiation from the atomic bombs has had a devastating effect on the environment. Plants, wildlife and animals also suffered as a consequence, and some of those consequences are still impacting today. America's decision to drop these atomic bombs has tarnished history. Seeing the complete devastation of lives, infrastructure and environment that these weapons caused, it is hard to believe that this kind of warfare was used in modern history.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is a coalition of non-government organisations in more than 1,000 countries promoting adherence to and implementation of the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Since its international campaign launch in 2007, ICAN has gained worldwide recognition for its campaign to stigmatise, prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons.

In 2008, the then UN Secretary-General joined the call to ban nuclear weapons and called on countries to implement existing legal obligations by negotiating a nuclear weapons convention. Since this recognition from the United Nations, ICAN has been fearlessly campaigning governments to recognise that nuclear weapons must be banned. They have gained support from the world trade union movement, the World Council of Churches, the Dalai Lama, thousands of grassroots activists, non-government organisations and politicians. This collective action has led to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

More than 135 nations attended the negotiations in March 2017, forming the legally binding document. The treaty prohibits nations from developing, testing, producing, manufacturing, transferring, processing, stockpiling, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons, or allowing nuclear weapons to be stationed on their territory. Nations holding such weapons are to either remove them by a certain deadline or destroy them in accordance with the legally binding time-bound plan. Nations assigned to the treaty are also obliged to provide assistance to all victims of the use and testing of nuclear weapons and to take measures for the remediation of contaminated environment.

Recognised for their incredible advocacy work, ICAN received a Nobel Peace Prize in December 2017. This recognised their work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and their groundbreaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons. Although their win was a great milestone, ICAN has not given up the fight and recognises that current unrest and geopolitical tensions are again surfacing, creating much concern in terms of mobilisation of atomic weapons.

Fittingly, on Monday this week we celebrated International Day of Peace. Leaders from around the world were encouraged to join the treaty to sign and ratify the agreement. Nearly two-thirds of the UN membership participated in the negotiation for the treaty and 84 have signed it. As of Monday, 45 countries have ratified the treaty. The treaty will come into force 90 days after the 50^th ratification.

Recent tensions have pushed ICAN and world leaders to urge world leaders to sign the treaty. Fifty-six former prime ministers, presidents, foreign ministers and defence ministers from 20 NATO countries, plus Japan and South Korea, released an open letter on Sunday imploring leaders to join the treaty.

The letter noted the risks of nuclear weapon use has escalated in recent years whether by accident, miscalculation or design. In 2018, President Trump began discussion with the Security Council and his administration about resuming nuclear weapon testing. Further, he made comments regarding the United States' disinterest in remaining in the arms control treaty with Russia.

These acts were nothing more than a show to Moscow and Beijing that the United States could rapid test nuclear weaponry. The threats were used as a mechanism to negotiate and pressure countries into aligning with the United States. Weapons of mass destruction should never be used to threaten other nations.

Threats to restart nuclear testing has significant ramifications for each state, and makes many anxious for how this power play may turn out. In response to the United States' threats to resuming nuclear testing, ICAN has heeded the call to action and has been advocating for the US to stop deliberations and for other countries to renew their commitment to pursuing nuclear disarmament.

As do all other states, Australia must hold those acting out of line accountable. Australia has the power to do this by progressing toward the ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Motions such as this have been put to almost every other jurisdiction in Australia. It is a strong show of the support ICAN has and the fantastic mobilisation of activists who have been working in Australia.

As the treaty is incompatible with Australia's ongoing support for the retention and potential use of US nuclear weapons on its behalf, Australia is still yet to sign or ratify this treaty. It did not participate in negotiations with the UN in 2017 and therefore did not vote on its adoption. This chamber must recognise that this is a serious step backwards to achieving peace and justice in international relations. I urge you all to support the motion and to support the disarmament of nuclear weapons.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. D.G.E. Hood.