MAPW members invited to address nuclear inquiry

MELBOURNE, WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2009. Dr Sue Wareham OAM. speaking as MAPW President and submission author, was one of six of experts invited to a Round Table with the Committee inquiring into Australia's nuclear treaties.

(See 9 December story for inquiry background.) Associate Professor Tilman Ruff participated on behalf of ICANⁱ.

Committee members, from Labor, Liberals and Greens parties, engaged panel members with probing questions, showing a keen interest in issues of nuclear security; and of strategies needed to abolish nuclear weapons.

Friends of the Earth (Dr Jim Green), the Australian Conservation Foundation (David Noonan), and the United Nations Association (Professor John Langmore) joined Rev Dr Wesley Campbell on the panel.

Earlier in the afternoon, Professor Joseph Camilleri addressed the Inquiry on strategies for nuclear abolition. Associate Professor Michael Hamel-Green and researcher Nic Maclellan spoke on the opportunities presented by strengthening and expanding nuclear free zones.

The transcript will be posted on the inquiry website. You can read the 78 submissions there now:
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/nuclearnon_proliferation/subs.htm