Penny Wong overruled department by sending observer to anti-nuclear treaty meeting

Exclusive: FOI documents reveal officials were nervous that going to Vienna gathering would be a sign of Australia wanted to join the treaty

Penny Wong overruled her department and insisted on sending an observer to the first meeting of countries that support a landmark United Nations treaty banning nuclear weapons, new documents reveal.

A trove of documents obtained by Guardian Australia under freedom of information laws shows nervous officials warned the foreign minister of “significant” risks if Australia went to the gathering in Vienna shortly after last year’s election.

Continue reading…
Source: The Guardian