"Part of the problem": why Australia, US haven't joined global nuclear weapons ban treaty

Nine nuclear weapons states are holding the rest of the world “hostage to annihilation”, but the Australian government is yet to act on a global ban.

On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis reflects on the United States’ military footprint in Australia, before former Australian Minister for International Development Melissa Parke joins the show to discuss the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

This episode was recorded Thursday 26 August.

Join Dr Emma Shortis and Allan Behm at 6pm, Tuesday 22 September for the Melbourne launch of Allan’s new book, New Game New Rules: A foreign policy for dystopian times.

Guest: Melissa Parke, Executive Director, International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons // @MelissaParke01

Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis

Show notes:

International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

New Game, New Rules: A foreign policy for dystopian times by Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (August 2026)

The US now has access to more than half Australia’s military bases – could it drag the country unwillingly into war? by Ben Doherty, Andy Ball & Nick Evershed, Guardian Australia (September 2026)

The U.S. Has Killed 227 Civilians in Boat Strikes During “A Year of Murders” by Nick Turse, The Intercept (September 2026)

Shorter America: An unhealthy alliance; Our "good friend" Pete; Oh my god these men (cont.) by Emma Shortis, The Point (August 2026)

Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions

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