ISSUES

• Nuclear Weapons Convention

  The time has come for nations to negotiate a global treaty outlawing nuclear weapons. Other categories of inhumane weapons have already been banned. Why not the deadliest weapons of all? ICAN Australia is calling on the Federal Government to join the 140 nations that have declared their support for such a treaty, known as a Nuclear Weapons Convention. However, the Government has said it is premature to begin work on a ban. Find out more.

• Uranium mining and exports

  Australia is a major exporter of uranium — a material used in nuclear power generation and nuclear bomb-making. Many of the recipients of Australian uranium are nations with nuclear arsenals: the US, China, France and the UK. Although safeguards agreements are in place to ensure that Australian uranium is not used in nuclear weapons, these are not foolproof. In fact, they provide only an illusion of protection. Find out more.

• Nuclear-weapon-free defence

  Australia is one of just three nations outside NATO that purport to rely on US nuclear weapons for defence. By sheltering under the US nuclear "umbrella", we send a message to would-be proliferators that nuclear weapons have security value. We also give legitimacy to these potentially Earth-destroying weapons. Further, Australia's reliance on nuclear weapons is used as an excuse by the US not to disarm. Find out more.

For more general information about nuclear weapons, see ICAN International.