8 JUNE 2017

Time for United ANZAC Ban on Nuclear Weapons!

Australia should be stepping up on the world stage to support an international Nuclear Weapons ban, says PeaceWorks NZ, a new national peace group.

While celebrating the 30th anniversary of New Zealand’s nuclear free legislation today, PeaceWorks says Australia is letting the side down.

It should also be taking part in the upcoming United Nations nuclear free negotiations in New York, which it has shunned.

Spokesperson Liz Remmerswaal says it’s disgraceful that our Anzac partners, who used to play an active role in disarmament issues, have been absent from the treaty table in recent times.

World leaders such as Pope Francis have declared the use of nuclear weapons to be immoral and said that the nuclear deterrence doctrine is an affront to the United Nations.

Mrs Remmerswaal says Australia should listen and get on board.

The NZ Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act was passed on 8 June 1987, and New Zealand is one of the 57 co-sponsors of the proposed United Nations nuclear weapons ban treaty which is being negotiated in New York in July this year.

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