Nuclear weapons are still a threat to humanity. In our age of uncertainty, Australia isn’t doing enough to rid the world of these weapons.

On this episode, Paul Barclay is joined by Dr Tilman Ruff, co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) to discuss Australia's role in trying to rid the world of nuclear weapons, including renouncing protection by nuclear weapons, the need to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and the risks associated with the AUKUS deal.

This discussion was recorded on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, and things may have changed since the recording.

Order What’s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.

Guest: Dr Tilman Ruff AO, Co-founder and Founding Chair, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons // @tilmanaruff

Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // @PaulBarclay

Show notes 

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference by Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (August 2022)

The hands of the Doomsday Clock show the world is ignoring a potential three-headed catastrophe by Allan Behm, The New Daily (January 2025)

Risky Business: An update on super funds and nuclear weapons by Rosemary Kelly, Margaret Beavis, Alice Grundy, Adam Gottschalk, Olivia Chollet, the Australia Institute (October 2024)

Australia’s Future Submarines: Submarines, submarine propulsion, defence policy, national security, AUKUS, nuclear safeguards and sovereignty: how do the pieces fit together? by Allan Behm, Rear Admiral Peter Briggs and Commodore Paul Greenfield RAN (October 2022)

Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

Nuclear weapons are still a threat to humanity. In our age of uncertainty, Australia isn&rsquo;t doing enough to rid the world of these weapons.
On this episode, Paul Barclay is joined by Dr Tilman Ruff, co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) to discuss Australia's role in trying to rid the world of nuclear weapons, including renouncing protection by nuclear weapons, the need to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and the risks associated with the AUKUS deal.
This discussion was recorded on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, and things may have changed since the recording.
Order&nbsp;<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/whats-the-big-idea">What&rsquo;s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia</a>&nbsp;now, via the Australia Institute website.
Guest: Dr Tilman Ruff AO, Co-founder and Founding Chair, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons // <a href="https://twitter.com/tilmanaruff">@tilmanaruff</a>
Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulBarclay">@PaulBarclay</a>
Show notes 
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/nuclear-non-proliferation-treaty-review-conference/">Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference</a>&nbsp;by Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (August 2022)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/the-hands-of-the-doomsday-clock-show-the-world-is-ignoring-a-potential-three-headed-catastrophe/">The hands of the Doomsday Clock show the world is ignoring a potential three-headed catastrophe</a>&nbsp;by Allan Behm, The New Daily (January 2025)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/risky-business/">Risky Business: An update on super funds and nuclear weapons</a>&nbsp;by Rosemary Kelly, Margaret Beavis, Alice Grundy, Adam Gottschalk, Olivia Chollet, the Australia Institute (October 2024)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/australias-future-submarines/">Australia&rsquo;s Future Submarines: Submarines, submarine propulsion, defence policy, national security, AUKUS, nuclear safeguards and sovereignty: how do the pieces fit together?</a>&nbsp;by Allan Behm, Rear Admiral Peter Briggs and Commodore Paul Greenfield RAN (October 2022)
Theme music:&nbsp;Blue Dot Sessions
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

There is no shortage of solutions for the biggest problems Australia faces — only a shortage of bravery to implement them. Host Paul Barclay asks contributors to Australia Institute Press' first book about their big picture thinking on how we can change Australia for the better.

There is no shortage of solutions for the biggest problems Australia faces &mdash; only a shortage of bravery to implement them. Host Paul Barclay asks contributors to Australia Institute Press' first book about their big picture thinking on how we can change Australia for the better.

How do you turn big, bold ideas into positive change?  In What's the Big Idea?, this new 12-episode series from the Australia Institute, acclaimed journalist Paul Barclay speaks to leading thinkers about how we can make change for the better.

What's the Big Idea?

There is no shortage of solutions for the biggest problems Australia faces — only a shortage of bravery to implement them. Host Paul Barclay asks contributors to Australia Institute Press' first book about their big picture thinking on how we can change Australia for the better. 

There is no shortage of solutions for the biggest problems Australia faces &mdash; only a shortage of bravery to implement them. Host Paul Barclay asks contributors to Australia Institute Press' first book about their big picture thinking on how we can change Australia for the better.&nbsp;

Nuclear weapons are still a threat to humanity. In our age of uncertainty, Australia isn’t doing enough to rid the world of these weapons.

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