Page 3913 - Week 10 - Thursday, 20 September 2018
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It is because of the federal government’s inaction on this issue that this motion in the Assembly is so important. As the motion calls for, we are joining other city and state governments around the world in passing a resolution in support of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Just as we have done on the issue of climate change, when national leadership is lacking, the role of state and territory parliaments becomes particularly important.
The motion further calls for all members to sign the ICAN parliamentary pledge. The pledge commits its signatories to:
… work for the signature and ratification of this landmark treaty by our respective countries, as we consider the abolition of nuclear weapons to be a global public good of the highest order and an essential step to promote the security and well-being of all peoples.
This pledge has been signed by hundreds of parliamentarians around the world. In the past two weeks another 30 state and territory parliamentarians in Australia from across the political spectrum have also pledged their support. Both I and Ms Le Couteur have signed the pledge. I note from ICAN’s website that other members in this place have also signed it. I welcome that. At a federal level, I am pleased to confirm that all of my Greens colleagues have signed on.
Too often governments ignore the concerns of civil society, preferring instead to operate within a closed loop of military-industrial advisers and policy hawks. ICAN has been a leading actor in the strengthening of civil society’s voice in the pursuit of a transparent, multilateral and diplomatic transition to a safer world.
At such a point in history, when the threat of nuclear war seems closer now than it has been for more than five decades, the work of ICAN has never been more important. However, on this issue I believe that the tide is turning and that it is inevitable that Australia join the ban.
I would like to finish by directly congratulating the hardworking members of ICAN Australia, including president Richard Tanter, Canberra’s own Sue Wareham, Jessica Lawson, Marcus Yip, Margaret Beavis, Daisy Gardener, Daryl Le Cornu, Ruth Mitchell, Tilam Ruff, Dave Sweeny, Tim Wright, Gem Romuld and Chrys Gardener.
To all the members and volunteers of ICAN Australia and throughout the international coalition, I congratulate you on this well-deserved recognition. I thank you for your ongoing and tireless efforts to make the world a safer place for all of us. The ACT Greens salute ICAN’s enduring commitment and tireless work to deliver our world from the dangers of nuclear weapons.
Having worked myself in the space of trying to deliver international treaties and agreements, I know that the progress of international treaties is often slow and frustrating. We congratulate ICAN on the broad success that the organisation has had
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