Anti-nuke flags for Hiroshima Day

HOBART’S Lord Mayor has flagged the city’s anti-nuclear stand on Hiroshima Day.

Cr Anna Reynolds unfurled two International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons flags at the Town Hall yesterday morning, but not all elected members are happy with the symbolic gesture.

Cr Reynolds said the ceremony aimed to draw attention to the destruction that has been — and could be in the future — inflicted by nuclear weapons.

Hobart City Council voted in April to join the ICAN Cities Appeal for a nuclear weapons-free planet.

But Alderman Simon Behrakis said it was another example of the council inserting itself in a debate where it had “not only zero authority but zero expertise”.

“There are many complex considerations to the issue of nuclear disarmament, none of which informed debate on this in council,” he said. “Given the long list of issues our city is facing, from the housing crisis to our ever-increasing traffic congestion, I’m sure the people of Hobart would prefer us to focus on these issues, as we were elected and paid to do, rather than chasing our own pet projects.”

Cr Reynolds said most people in Hobart wanted council to be proactive on key national and global issues.

“There’s a very long history and tradition of local governments speaking up and leading on issues of significance,” she said.

“The matter was brought to council because of the lack of action by the Australian Government on signing the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Cities around the world are leading on the issues of climate change and nuclear warships in their city harbours.”

Cr Reynolds said no one was immune to the threat posed by nuclear weapons and council “must continue to lobby for this threat to be removed”.

Local GP and Tasmanian convener for the Medical Association for the Prevention of War Sally Attrill said the council’s efforts would have a very encouraging impact.

She said the abolition of most indiscriminate and inhumane weapons, such as biological and chemical weapons and landmines, started at the grassroots.