SYDNEY, Australia (CU)_The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says the new United Nations nuclear treaty, which comes into effect on Friday (Jan 22), will be ineffective in eliminating nuclear weapons from the world.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which bans the states party to the agreement from testing, developing, producing, stockpiling or threatening to use nuclear weapons, has already been signed by 86 countries, including neighbouring New Zealand.
However, the Australian government has decided not to the sign the Agreement since the Pacific island nation is of the view that the treaty “will be ineffective in eliminating nuclear weapons”.
“Australia is committed to the goal of a peaceful, secure world free of nuclear weapons, pursued in an effective, pragmatic and realistic way,” a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.
“Our long-held focus is on progressing nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament through a progressive, practical approach that engages all states, especially nuclear weapon states, in the process”.
However, Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said a Labour government would have worked with its allies on the matter of nuclear proliferation, and therefore would have signed and ratified the treaty.
“After taking into account the need to ensure an effective verification and enforcement architecture, the interaction of the treaty with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and achieve universal support, a Labour government would sign and ratify the treaty,” she said.
“Australia can and should lead international efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons. A Labour government would work with our allies and partners to this end and would always act consistently with the US alliance.”
Dave Sweeney, co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, said the Treaty gives Australia an opportunity either to be a “responsible and lawful member” of the global community or “to remain silent and complicit in plans to fight illegal wars”.
Helen Durham, director for international law and policy at the International Committee of the Red Cross also commended the Treaty, describing it as “the most explicit and clearest expression that the horrific weapons need to be banned”.
“It deals not only with their use but also with their threat of use, with their stockpiling, with their production, with their development and their testing,” she said.
“This treaty is a great opportunity to move a very stagnated, to date, agenda forward and we would encourage every state to take up this opportunity.”
