Antinuclear

Senator Scott Ludlam speaks on the Nuclear Terrorism Bill

Excerpts from a lengthy speech in the Senate, 27 Feb 12,  Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia)   I rise to add the comments of the Australian Greens to debate on the Nuclear Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 and to add my support to that of the coalition for this bill….. The Greens support the intention of this legislation and treaty but we remind the Senate this is really only a Band-Aid measure—it is a valuable one but that is all it is when it comes to identifying the root cause of nuclear terrorism, which is of course the existence of nuclear materials, fissile materials and nuclear weapons…….

Explanations by the nuclear haves that the weapons are indispensable to defend their sovereignty are not the best way to convince other sovereign states to renounce the option. This is a debate that is occurring in the Australian defence community at the moment with the reconsideration of the Defence White Paper. Where do US nuclear weapons fit within Australia’s security doctrine? …..We need to get out from under the US nuclear umbrella as a way of encouraging our nuclear ally….

eliminating nuclear materials would seriously impede terrorist networks’ ability to acquire such materials. Immediately securing all nuclear weapons and weapons-usable material is also obvious. Locking down and eliminating existing fissile material and nuclear weapons and facilities is really the only way to address the danger of nuclear terrorism…..This debate must go further. We pass this bill today but we must proceed further to the debate about how to eliminate these weapons from the arsenals of all nations, including our ally the United States.

February 27, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News