November 2nd, 2021Council supports UN Treaty on prohibition of nuclear weapons

Macedon Ranges Shire Council has joined the call for the Australian Government to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
The decision was carried at the Scheduled Council Meeting in August as a Notice of Motion moved by Cr Annette Death that Council:

1. Puts on record its deep concern about the grave threat that nuclear weapons pose to communities throughout the world. Council firmly believes that our residents have the right to live in a world free from this threat. Any use of nuclear weapons, whether deliberate or accidental, would have catastrophic, far‐reaching and long‐lasting consequences for people and the environment.
2. Welcomes the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by the United Nations in 2017.
3. Requests the Mayor write to Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to call on Australia to sign and ratify the Treaty without delay.
4. Requests the Chief Executive Officer to issue a media release announcing that Council has joined the call for the Federal Government to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
5. Directs that the Chief Executive Officer must initiate a review of Council’s investment in a financial institution if it is brought to the Chief Executive Officer’s attention that that financial institution invests in the production of nuclear weapons.
6. Recognises the ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons) Cities for Peace Appeal and acknowledges the large number of cities and shires across Australia that have committed to this appeal.
   Cr Annette Death said, “Local government plays an important role in advocating for its community on a wide range of issues, and community safety is one of these.
   “Council is already a city member of Mayors for Peace that supports the elimination of nuclear weapons.
   “This Treaty is seeking to comprehensively ban nuclear weapons, providing a pathway for all nations to outlaw and eliminate nuclear weapons.
   “Thirty eight local councils have already passed a motion in support of the ICAN Cities for Peace appeal and Council has received ICAN postcards from residents asking council to support this cause.
   “We should be leaders in this space through advocacy. We have responsibility to look after our citizens,” Cr Death said.
   The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted by the United Nations in 2017.
   The Australian Local Government Association unanimously passed a motion in June, calling on the Australian Government to sign and ratify the Treaty.
   Mayor, Cr Jennifer Anderson also called on the Australia Government to join other nations in signing the Treaty to ban and eliminate nuclear weapons once and for all.
   “Community members have told Council this is important to them, and as a Council, we have a responsibility to make a stand and advocate on behalf of our community,” Cr Anderson said.
   A recording of the August Scheduled Council Meeting is available to watch at mrsc.vic.gov.au/recordings