Independent and Peaceful Australian Network
IPAN Patrons: Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe AO & Kellie Tranter Lawyer & Human Rights Activist
MEDIA RELEASE 16 July 2025
- 16 July marks the 80th Anniversary of the Trinity nuclear bomb test at Alamogordo, New Mexico
- The risk of nuclear war, the biggest threat to human survival, has never been greater
- It’s time for Labor to again take a global leadership role by pushing for No First Use policies
- Australia must support China’s proposed five nation No First Use Treaty
‘On this 80th anniversary of the Trinity nuclear bomb test at Alamogordo, New Mexico, which began the age of nuclear weapons on earth, the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) calls on the Australian government to take action to prevent nuclear war’, said IPAN member and spokesperson, Colin Mitchell.
‘IPAN believes the Australian government should declare support for nuclear-armed nations to adopt No First Use policies as a means of reducing the risk of nuclear war.’
‘The risk of nuclear war on this planet has risen sharply to its highest level since the Cuban missile crisis. The Doomsday Clock is now closer to midnight than ever before.’
‘We are seeing multiple existing or potential conflict zones that could spill over into nuclear war, including the Ukraine war, India-Pakistan, and the US-China confrontation in the South China sea. Nuclear war is the biggest threat to the survival of human civilisation on planet earth.’
The Labor party has previously taken a leadership role in advancing measures towards nuclear war risk reduction, nuclear arms control and nuclear disarmament.
Former Labor Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gareth Evans, was a leading Labor minister taking action towards these goals; and has for decades been vociferously advocating that Australia support No First Use policies for nuclear-armed nations[i].
‘At present only China and India have No First Use policies in place, despite consideration by the US under the Obama and Biden administrations. If the US were to join China and India in adopting No First Use, pressure would then be placed on Russia to follow suit.’
‘China, in various forums, has repeatedly called for the US and other nuclear-armed nations to adopt No First Use policies and is now intending to bring an ambitious proposal for a five-nation No First Use Treaty to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2026, which would be between the US, Russia, China, UK and France.’
‘IPAN believes Australia should support this proposed treaty or any other proposal to adopt No First Use policies from whatever source it came’, whether a treaty or simply a unilateral declaration of policy by a nuclear-armed nation.’
‘If China’s proposed treaty were negotiated, the world would be a significantly safer place.’
‘Any declaration of a No First Use policy – unilateral, bilateral or multilateral – reinforces the nuclear taboo, lowers the global temperature and lowers the risk of nuclear war.’
‘No First Use policies are also a first step forward towards nuclear disarmament.’
IPAN believes that Australia declaring support for No First Use policies is an easy and obvious step Australia could take towards reducing the risk of nuclear war, requiring only a statement of position. But such a declaration would contribute to the development, internationally, of a positive expectation towards this position and so encourage nuclear armed powers which haven’t adopted such a policy to do so.
In particular, ‘making such a declaration would make it easier for the US to adopt a No First Use policy.’
‘IPAN believes that having No First Use policies in place is a guard-rail which may save us from global catastrophe in future conflict situations.’
‘Australia should support this minimum step towards the world pulling back from the nuclear brink.’
ENDS
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For Media Interviews: Colin Mitchell M: 0409 615 924
Media Liaison: Jonathan Pilbrow M: 0403 611 815
Bio: Colin Mitchell has been a long-time activist for reducing the danger of nuclear war and for nuclear disarmament. A formative influence was living through the Cuban Missile Crisis. He has been a member of IPAN for a number of years and as a member of the Labor Party is the convenor of the SA branch of Labor Against War.
IPAN’s Vision: An Independent and Peaceful Australia
Website: www.ipan.org.au Instagram: @ipanaustralia Facebook: FB_IPAN X: @IPAusNet
[i] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/01/australia-must-lobby-us-for-no-first-use-of-nuclear-weapons-says-ex-minister-gareth-evans