People often ask, “what does Council do?” or “why does it get involved in ‘non-core’ business?”
My answer to both these questions is because it’s our job to represent our local community on important and often complex issues, beyond rates, rubbish and roads, and especially when those we look to, to manage them for us, that is the Federal and State governments, are doing nothing to
address them. A timely example is the federal government’s refusal to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Last year, in a show of local government strength, a collaboration of Australian councils (including Maribyrnong) came together to promote the adoption of a resolution by the Australian Local Government Association calling on the federal government to sign and ratify the Treaty.
To date the government has refused, blaming our alliance with the United States for its inaction. With other US allies having already signed the Treaty, this excuse doesn’t fly, and with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine it is essential all governments around the world align on the importance of
implementing the Treaty.
It may take years to do so, but the sooner we start the sooner we will see results. There are many things, as individual residents, we can also do to discourage the type of aggression we are currently witnessing from Russia. While we can boycott the country itself, we also need to target the production of the weapons they are using, particularly the threat of nuclear weapons.
Think of the investments you have or the banks and companies you use. For example, does your superannuation company invest in companies that produce nuclear (and other) weapons?
There are investment companies in the marketplace who guarantee your money will never be used to support the manufacture of weapons. As a bonus, they also do not invest in things like tobacco, gambling and fossil fuels. At this time one thing we can all do is think about what our money is
currently funding and consider alternatives that support the development of ethical activities instead that will move us towards a more peaceful planet!
