PERTH councillors have voted 5–3 to endorse a global appeal urging Australia to sign a United Nations treaty banning nuclear weapons — but not without some debate over whether the issue belongs at Town Hall.

The motion, moved by councillor Clyde Bevan, marked the 80th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

It also signed the City up to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Cities Appeal, which calls on the federal government to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Cr Bevan said the idea came after visiting the Never Again: The Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Exhibition with his wife Lesley and councillor Raj Doshi.

“I was really saddened with what I saw; the photographs around the walls of what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki and other events with regard to the trialling of nuclear weapons,” he told the chamber.

“Nuclear weapons are the most destructive, inhumane weapons ever created. They are designed not to target armies, but entire cities and civilian populations. One nuclear weapon can wipe out a city in seconds… Multiple nuclear detonations could end life as we know it.”

Cr Bevan said Australia had “a proud history of supporting treaties that ban indiscriminate, inhumane weapons” but was “sitting on the sidelines” when it came to nuclear arms.

“Joining the treaty isn’t just about banning weapons; it’s about showing leadership, protecting future generations, and standing on the right side of history,” he said.

But councillor Catherine Lezer argued the motion strayed too far from the City’s remit.

“I appreciate the humanitarian goals, however… I cannot support the motion for the following reasons, the first one being the jurisdictional relevance,” she said.

“Nuclear disarmament and international treaties exceed the responsibilities of local government. Our primary focus should be on serving our local community. I’m unaware of any ratepayer to date that has raised this with the City of Perth as an actual issue.”

Cr Lezer said global advocacy risked diverting “resources, costs, funding and attention” from local priorities and warned it could “politicise the council’s platform” in a city with diverse and transient views.

“While we all support peaceful initiatives, I believe… it [would] be inappropriate for our council to formally endorse the ICAN Cities Appeal at this moment in time,” she said.

The motion passed, aligning Perth with dozens of other Australian councils — including Fremantle — already signed onto the appeal.