TAKE ACTION ON AUKUS
Tensions between Australia and China have escalated dramatically with the announcement of a new military pact between Australia, the UK and the US (AUKUS), and the proposed acquisition by Australia of nuclear-powered submarines.
This announcement represents a threat to human health and global security.
The AUKUS arrangement has not been scrutinised by parliament or the Australian people. The full implications for Australian security and sovereignty, the nuclear proliferation risks, and the potential for domestic nuclear capability, must be subject to debate and proper decision-making processes.
Please write to your MP today, asking them to act in the best interests of the Australian people.
1. Who is my MP?
Go to openaustralia.org.au to search for your MP by postcode, and to find their contact details.
2. What should my letter say?
Your letter should reflect your personal concerns, as a constituent, and should ask your MP to take concrete action.
We suggest these key actions are important now:
- Australia should sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons without delay. This is an important step that will make good on the government's statement that, under AUKUS, Australia will not acquire nuclear weapons, and provide assurance to the Australian people and people in our region.
- The AUKUS agreement must receive full and proper scrutiny. Nuclear submarines are only the tip of the AUKUS iceberg: long-range, nuclear-capable missiles stationed in Australia are also part of the deal, along with increased presence of US military forces. The 'pathway' to nuclear submarines, implications for Australian sovereignty, nuclear proliferation, and global security must be publicly debated, along with the projected cost to to taxpayers.
- The Defence Act must be amended to require parliamentary approval before overseas deployment of Australian troops, in all non-emergency situations.
- Australian diplomatic capability, and other proactive instruments of foreign policy engagement, like aid and development, must be urgently bolstered after years of underinvestment while budgets for defence, intelligence and security have ballooned.
Want more suggested talking points? Download our 1-page AUKUS Talking Points brief. Click here.
Can you share your letter with us? Please email [email protected]
DOWNLOAD OUR MARCH 2023 RESPONSE TO AUKUS ANNOUNCEMENT
Nuclear-powered submarines for Australia: jeopardising health and fuelling an arms race
JOINT STATEMENT | 21 September 2021
MAPW has joined with leading US and UK health organisations to express grave concern for human health and global security.
Together with fellow IPPNW affiliates, Medact (UK) and Physicians for Social Responsibility (USA), MAPW has highlighted the risks posed to health by Australia's acquisition of nuclear submarines, and the broader consequences of the new trilateral agreement between the governments of the UK, US and Australia.
Dr Elisabeth McElderry, International Councillor of Medact (UK), said of the new agreement, “Resources are needed both at home and worldwide to improve health and care services, and to reduce the drivers of conflict, displacement and disease.
It is very disappointing that the United Kingdom continues to promote armament exports, in this case with added nuclear dangers, which goes in the opposite direction of the UK Government statement in May of this year that ‘investing in conflict prevention is the right thing to do.“
Dr David E. Drake, President of Physicians for Social Responsibility (USA), noted "Let's not forget that 'On the Beach' depicted the end of the world, focused on Australia. Instead of ramping up a new cold war, we must cooperate to decrease tensions and work toward eliminating all weapons of mass destruction, while we still can."
MAPW President, Dr Sue Wareham, added, “The nuclear weapons proliferation potential of this deal will be significant. A government assurance on the matter is totally inadequate."
IPPNW - International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War - is a global federation of medical professionals working for the abolition of nuclear weapons. IPPNW was founded in 1980 by physicians from the United States and the former Soviet Union who shared a common commitment to the prevention of nuclear war between their two countries.
Read the full statement: click here.
Dr Sue Wareham, MAPW President, is available for comment. Contact us: [email protected]
IN WAKE OF SUBS PLAN, PM MUST ACT ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS
MEDIA RELEASE | 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Heath professionals have expressed grave concern at the Prime Minister’s announcement today of nuclear submarines for Australia. While he has stated that we are not acquiring nuclear weapons, he needs to build trust in that assertion.
President of the Medical Association for Prevention of War (Australia), Dr Sue Wareham, said “We call on the Prime Minister to show that he’s categorically ruled out nuclear weapons for Australia by signing and ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The same government that now tells us that they don’t want Australia to become nuclear-armed has thus far furiously resisted signing the ban treaty.”
Ramping up nuclear technology in Australia would make a nuclear weapons capacity far easier to achieve. Such a development would be absolutely disastrous for our security. Most of the world’s governments believe we need to abolish these weapons.
The weapons proliferation risk is made all the more serious by the fact that the submarines are likely to be powered by highly-enriched uranium, which is weapons-grade uranium. To date, there is no country that has nuclear-powered submarines that does not also have nuclear weapons.
The acquisition of nuclear-powered subs would also further lock us into an alliance with a nation that takes us into disastrous wars. They are designed for operating far from home, which for Australia could mean the South China Sea. Why is Australia so foolishly buying into such provocative force projection?
Dr Wareham also warned against Australia provoking an arms race. “Every ramping up of military capacity acts as a signal to others in the region to consider doing the same. Do we really want our neighbours to all develop long-range offensive military capacity? “
At the absolute very least, this proposal needs full debate in our parliament and the Australian community.