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Australia fails to grasp anti-nuclear opportunity: expert
Australia has missed a crucial opportunity in the fight to rid the world of nuclear
weapons in its joint submission with Japan to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Review Conference, RMIT University’s Professor Richard Tanter says.
The Australian-Japanese submission will follow many of the recommendations of
the report of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and
Disarmament (the Evans/Kawaguchi report), co-chaired by the two countries.
Professor Tanter, Director of the Nautilus Institute at RMIT, said he welcomed
many of the proposals in the joint submission but was disappointed the Federal
Government had failed to support Japan’s push to include a recommendation that
would strictly restrict the use of nuclear weapons.
“Japan wanted to head off the use of nuclear weapons to respond to conventional
attacks, or chemical and biological attacks, with a recommendation that the sole
purpose of nuclear weapons is to deter the use of nuclear weapons,” he said.
“Support for the Japanese initiative would be consistent with our declared reliance
on US nuclear protection in the face of nuclear threats – the ‘nuclear umbrella’.
“But the Rudd Government did not share the vision and courage of its Japanese
partner to press the US for this important restriction on the use of nuclear
weapons, and it was omitted from the final draft of the joint submission.
“A joint approach from two of America’s most important allies in the region would
have had an important effect on the contest within the Obama Administration over
nuclear weapons policy.
“Australia has lost an important chance to influence its biggest ally.”
Why is it important for Australia and Japan to take cooperate and take a lead on
disarmament issues?
Why did Australia fail to support the Japanese proposal?
And why is there a fight inside the Obama Administration over these issues?
Professor Tanter has worked on peace, security and environment issues in East
and Southeast Asia as an analyst, policy advocate and activist since the 1970s.
He is available for expert comment on nuclear disarmament and issues related to
the joint Australian-Japanese submission to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Review Conference, being held in New York in May.
For interviews: RMIT University’s Professor Richard Tanter, 0407 824 336.
For general media enquiries: RMIT University Communications, Gosia
Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.
24 March, 2010
NEWS 
