Scott Ludlam

Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia



MEDIA RELEASE

Nuclear Weapons Convention: time for major  parties to come on board

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam

Friday 6th August 2010, 9:43am Share   in

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Nuclear Disarmament

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Nuclear Weapons

The Australian Greens call on the next Australian government to begin negotiations on an international

Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC) by no later than 2015, Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear

issues Senator Scott Ludlam said today.



"On the morning of the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, we must rededicate ourselves

to the task of ridding the world of nuclear weapons."



"The Greens believe Australia should contribute funding to the establishment of a Global Centre on Nuclear

Non-proliferation and Disarmament. A $3 million contribution from Australia will help build on the work of

former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans in building consensus for practical measures to eliminate nuclear

weapons.



"Australia played an important role in the leadup to the 2010 Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty review in

New York - but then we went missing at the conference itself.



"The global voice for commencing an NWC is getting stronger by the day, with dozens of countries now

committed. Australia must join this growing alliance. The next Prime Minister must commit Australia to the

task.



"Hiroshima day is a time to reflect on the continued existence of tens of thousands of nuclear weapons, and

the necessity of a binding international treaty to eliminate them once and for all.



"Kevin Rudd understood the need to rid the world of these weapons: we haven't heard a word from Julia

Gillard or Tony Abbott, and today is the day for them to speak out," Senator Ludlam said.



Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0417 174 302



