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Yarra reaffirms support to abolish nuclear weapons on Hiroshima Anniversary

Yarra City Council reaffirmed its support for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Cities Appeal. 

11 Jul 2025
The aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing

Yarra City Council has acknowledged the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, by reaffirming its support for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Cities Appeal. 

About the ICAN Cities Appeal

The ICAN Cities Appeal is global initiative that empowers local communities to advocate for nuclear disarmament through their city councils and urges the Federal governments to sign and ratify the treaty.  

Mayor’s statement

“The amount of young people who have spoken to me recently about their fear of nuclear weapons has been a real eye-opener,” said Yarra City Council Mayor, Cr Stephen Jolly. 

“The most important part of this motion is to not only to reaffirm our endorsement of the campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, but to call on the Federal Government to do the right thing and sign and ratify this without delay.” 

Widespread local government support

Many cities and councils throughout the world are part of the initiative. In Australia, the campaign has seen support from numerous local councils, as well as organisations including the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA).  

In the past two weeks, Wollongong City Council, Randwick City Council, Inner West City Council and The City of Sydney in NSW; and The City of Victor Harbour in South Australia have also reaffirmed their support for the ICAN Cities Appeal. 

Victorian councils supporting the appeal

Yarra City Council is one of 14 Victorian councils that have endorsed support for the ICAN Cities Appeal, others include: 

  • Banyule 

  • Bayside 

  • Benalla 

  • Brimbank 

  • Darebin 

  • Hume 

  • Macedon Ranges 

  • Maribyrnong 

  • Melbourne 

  • Merri-bek 

  • Port Phillip 

  • Wyndham 

  • Yarra 

  • Yarra Ranges 

National endorsement across Australia

They join 33 other Australian councils that have endorsed their support: 

  • Adelaide (SA) 

  • Augusta Margaret River (WA) 

  • Ballina (NSW) 

  • Bassendean (WA) 

  • Bayside (NSW) 

  • Blue Mountains (NSW) 

  • Brisbane (QLD) 

  • Byron Shire (NSW) 

  • Canberra (ACT) 

  • Fremantle (WA) 

  • Georges River (NSW) 

  • Hobart (TAS) 

  • Inner West (NSW) 

  • Ipswich (QLD) 

  • Kiama (NSW) 

  • Lane Cove (NSW) 

  • Lismore (NSW) 

  • Mount Barker (SA) 

  • Mount Isa (QLD) 

  • Newcastle (NSW) 

  • Port Adelaide Enfield (SA) 

  • Prospect (SA) 

  • Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (ACT) 

  • Randwick (NSW) 

  • Ryde (NSW) 

  • Shellharbour (NSW) 

  • Shoalhaven (NSW)  

  • Sydney (NSW) 

  • Victor Harbour (SA) 

  • West Torrens (SA) 

  • Wollongong (NSW) 

  • Waverley (NSW) 

  • Whyalla (SA)