IPAN Patrons: Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe AO & Kellie Tranter Lawyer, Human Rights Activist
MEDIA RELEASE 4 November 2025
Four Corners reveals security threats arising from the US Alliance
- Defence Minister on Four Corners comments out of step with Labor policy platform
- AUKUS and Force Posture agreements likely roadblocks to signing and ratifying the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese needs to re-assert Labors support for the Ban Treaty
- We must obtain security using our own resources and with our regional neighbours
- We should not seek shelter under a US ‘nuclear umbrella’ which undermines, not enhances security
‘The Labor Government has had four years in power to put in place the necessary pre-conditions for signing the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and must finally act on commitments previously made’, stated Ms Annette Bronwlie, Chairperson of IPAN.
Comments in response to a question about the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) by the Minister for Defence Richard Marles aired last night on ABC’s Four Corners, are at odds with his Party’s commitments made at three national Labor Conferences.
‘What’s really clear is that the [National] Conference understands that this is a decision of government… a decision of Labor in government. And the decision that Labor has made in government has been to follow the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The NPT is at the core of Labor in government’s policy.”
‘IPAN is extremely concerned that Australia’s commitment to the AUKUS deal is a roadblock to signing and ratifying the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty’, said Ms Brownlie.
‘The likelihood that the Labor government will sign the TPNW seems to be diminishing while we are so deeply enmeshed in US foreign policy and the AUKUS pact’, said Ms Brownlie.
The NPT has failed to limit nations such as Israel, Pakistan, North Korea and India from acquiring nuclear weapons. With the Newstart treaty about to expire there will be no constraints on nuclear expansion other than the TPNW.
The Labor Party made a commitment in 2019 to work towards the elimination of all nuclear weapons – with the resolution moved by now Prime minister Anthony Albanese and seconded by Mr Marles.
This commitment has since been reaffirmed at the two subsequent national conferences in 2021 and 2023.
‘Regional neighbours such as Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia have signed and ratified the treaty, but our diplomatic efforts fall short while our government resists signing it. We can only deduce US military bases in our country are the only roadblock’, said Ms Brownlie.
‘And encouragingly, nearly half of all Federal politicians have signed a Parliamentary Pledge committing to work for the signature and ratification of TPNW by Australia’.
‘While the threat of nuclear war is on the rise, the nuclear weapons ban treaty holds the key to a shift in direction and is our best chance to get rid of the worst ever weapon’, said Ms Brownlie.
‘Regional conflict could escalate beyond control, potentially even to nuclear confrontation’, said Ms Brownlie.
Recent research revealed that 68% of Australians support signing and ratifying the TPNW, with opposition to joining the treaty at just 11%.[i] The Australian public are very much on side.
‘Now is the time for the Australian Government to act on its commitment and be on the right side of history,’ said Ms Brownlie.
ENDS
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Media Interviews: Annette Brownlie M: 0431 597 256
Media Liaison: Jonathan Pilbrow M: 0403 611 815
Bio: Annette Brownlie is founding member of the Brisbane based community peace organisation, Just Peace Queensland, and the current (and inaugural) chairperson of IPAN. She has served in this position for over a decade.
[i] Essential Research polling commissioned by the Nobel peace prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Australia, shows more than two-thirds (68%) of Australians support signing and ratifying the treaty, with opposition to Australia joining the treaty at just 11%.