The Australia-US deal over the Naval Communication Station at North West Cape threatens Ningaloo Reef and needs a complete overhaul, the Australian Greens warned today.

Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam issued a dissenting report in the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties report tabled today in the Senate. Senator Ludlam said the role of the base in supporting the American nuclear-armed submarine fleet was a cause of grave concern and in conflict with Australian commitments to nuclear disarmament.

Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee
BUDGET ESTIMATES 2011-2012
Finance and Deregulation Portfolio
Department/Agency: Future Fund Management Agency
Outcome/Program: Management of the Future Fund
Senator: Ludlam
Question reference number: F34

Finance and Administration Committee Thursday 26 May 2011

The Federal Government's Future Fund is clearly violating its own policies and cutting across Australia's international legal obligations by investing in companies that manufacture nuclear weapons, the Australian Greens said today.

Under questioning in Senate estimates hearings this morning, the Acting General Manager and Chief Investment Officer of the Future Fund disclosed that the Fund had not sought legal advice before defending its $135.4 million investment in nuclear weapons manufacturers.

The Australian Greens today urged the Government to support a United Nations draft resolution calling for a ban on the production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons to be voted on tomorrow in New York.

Greens spokesperson for nuclear issues Senator Scott Ludlam said the Government should take the opportunity to make a clear statement of support for a nuclear weapons convention.

The Australian Greens call on the next Australian government to begin negotiations on an international Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC) by no later than 2015, Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues Senator Scott Ludlam said today.

"On the morning of the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, we must rededicate ourselves to the task of ridding the world of nuclear weapons."

The government and the opposition today voted against a Senate motion that simply noted a number of public statements.

"If the government can't even note statements made by its own Ambassadors, the Attorney General, the UN Secretary General, Gareth Evans and an article of a treaty Australia signed in 1973 we are in real trouble," said Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues.

Senator LUDLAM-I have a couple of questions relating to veterans of British atomic weapons testing that occurred in Australia in the mid-20th century who, as you are no doubt aware, have been calling for compensation for a long time. Some of them have joined a class action in Britain after a UK High Court ruling-which I presume you are aware of-which did not rule in favour of veterans but at least allowed them to have their day in court and make a case.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's International Commission on Nuclear Non Proliferation and Disarmament has launched its report in Tokyo, confirming that nuclear weapons are the most inhumane, indiscriminate and wholly unnecessary weapons ever devised.

"The Commission, chaired by Gareth Evans and Yoriko Kawaguchi, proposes a 90 per cent reduction in nuclear weapons by 2025, but is vague on steps to get to the ultimate goal of zero," said Australian Greens nuclear spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (9.34 am)-

I move:

That the Senate-

(a) notes that: 

(i) more than 2 000 nuclear weapons tests have been conducted between 1945 and 2009, 

(ii) the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans all nuclear test explosions in all environments, for military or civilian purposes, 

(iii) the sixth Article XIV (Entry Into Force) conference (the conference) of the CTBT will be held on 24 September and 25 September 2009,