East Gippsland, Australia shire council passes motion against nuclear weapons
February 4, 2021, 21:00:02 CET | Wikinews
February 4, 2021, 21:00:02 CET | Wikinews
Thursday, February 4, 2021 
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The East Gippsland Shire Council, a local government body in Australia which governs towns such as Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota, on Tuesday passed a motion supporting the prohibition of nuclear weapons. The motion originated from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a global campaign supporting implementation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The motion called upon the council to write to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in indication of their support for the treaty.
A global appeal for a nuclear-weapon-ban treaty; 2016. Image: ICAN Global Parliamentary Appeal.
The motion was moved at Tuesday's council meeting by Councillor Tony Crook, and seconded by Councillor Jane Greacen. While Crook acknowledged "clearly this forum has very little influence over the use or production of nuclear weapons", he acknowledged Australia's role in the nuclear fuel cycle, stating nuclear weapons "have bought untold misery to communities around the world". Councillor Arthur Allan opposed the motion, saying while he agreed with what Crook and Greacen had stated, the issue of nuclear weapons was a "federal issue" and the motion amounted to "virtue signalling".
Deputy Mayor Mark Reeves supported the motion, contending it was an issue of "moral standing" and representing the views of the community, quipping "nobody's said to me — 'You know what we need? A really good intercontinental ballistic missile in the shire.'" Councillor Trevor Stowe called the motion "feel-good stuff" and "an absolute waste of time".
The vote ultimately resulted in a tie, with Crook, Greacen, Reeves, and Mayor Mendy Urie voting in support, and Councillors John White and Kirsten Van Diggele, as well as Allen and Stowe, voting against. Councillor Sonia Buckley abstained. Mayor Urie broke the tie in favour of the motion.
The Australian government has previously boycotted prohibition treaty talks, with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade stating "a ban treaty risks undermining the [non-proliferation treaty] which Australia rightly regards as the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation and disarmament architecture". The opposition Labor Party has pledged to sign and ratify the treaty if elected to government.
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Sources[edit]
"Council Meeting Agenda" — Shire of East Gippsland, February 2, 2021 (date of access)
"East Gippsland Shire Council Live Stream" — Shire of East Gippsland, February 2, 2021
Thomas Kelsall. "What we know today, Friday January 22" — InDaily, January 22, 2021
"Australia’s Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Policy" — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, February 2, 2021 (date of access)
"Australian Labor Party commits to joining Nuclear Ban Treaty" — International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, February 2, 2021 (date of access)
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Source: Wikinews
Nuclear proliferation
Related articles
4 February 2021: East Gippsland, Australia shire council passes motion against nuclear weapons
28 May 2018: Korean leaders Moon and Kim meet days after NK-US summit cancellation
4 May 2018: Leader of South Korea requests foreign involvement in decommissioning of nuclear test site
28 March 2014: Japan agrees to ship nuclear materials to U.S.
25 November 2013: Iran to reduce nuclear enrichment in exchange for sanctions reduction
Collaborate!
Pillars of Wikinews writing
Writing an article
The East Gippsland Shire Council, a local government body in Australia which governs towns such as Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota, on Tuesday passed a motion supporting the prohibition of nuclear weapons. The motion originated from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a global campaign supporting implementation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The motion called upon the council to write to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in indication of their support for the treaty.
A global appeal for a nuclear-weapon-ban treaty; 2016. Image: ICAN Global Parliamentary Appeal.
The motion was moved at Tuesday's council meeting by Councillor Tony Crook, and seconded by Councillor Jane Greacen. While Crook acknowledged "clearly this forum has very little influence over the use or production of nuclear weapons", he acknowledged Australia's role in the nuclear fuel cycle, stating nuclear weapons "have bought untold misery to communities around the world". Councillor Arthur Allan opposed the motion, saying while he agreed with what Crook and Greacen had stated, the issue of nuclear weapons was a "federal issue" and the motion amounted to "virtue signalling".
Deputy Mayor Mark Reeves supported the motion, contending it was an issue of "moral standing" and representing the views of the community, quipping "nobody's said to me — 'You know what we need? A really good intercontinental ballistic missile in the shire.'" Councillor Trevor Stowe called the motion "feel-good stuff" and "an absolute waste of time".
The vote ultimately resulted in a tie, with Crook, Greacen, Reeves, and Mayor Mendy Urie voting in support, and Councillors John White and Kirsten Van Diggele, as well as Allen and Stowe, voting against. Councillor Sonia Buckley abstained. Mayor Urie broke the tie in favour of the motion.
The Australian government has previously boycotted prohibition treaty talks, with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade stating "a ban treaty risks undermining the [non-proliferation treaty] which Australia rightly regards as the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation and disarmament architecture". The opposition Labor Party has pledged to sign and ratify the treaty if elected to government.
Have an opinion on this story? Share it!
Sources[edit]
"Council Meeting Agenda" — Shire of East Gippsland, February 2, 2021 (date of access)
"East Gippsland Shire Council Live Stream" — Shire of East Gippsland, February 2, 2021
Thomas Kelsall. "What we know today, Friday January 22" — InDaily, January 22, 2021
"Australia’s Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Policy" — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, February 2, 2021 (date of access)
"Australian Labor Party commits to joining Nuclear Ban Treaty" — International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, February 2, 2021 (date of access)
Share this: 
Source: Wikinews
Tags: East Gippsland Shire Council Bairnsdale Lakes Entrance Victoria Mallacoota International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Scott Morrison virtue signalling Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australian Labor Party Shire of East Gippsland InDaily
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