Australian Peace Council

The Australian Peace Council (APC) was a prominent peace advocacy organization established in 1949 in response to rising global tensions following World War II and the onset of the Cold War. It aimed to promote disarmament, peaceful international relations, and public awareness of the consequences of war, particularly nuclear conflict. The Council was launched with support from political figures, union leaders, clergy, intellectuals, and civil society members, including pacifist and former Member of Parliament Doris Blackburn.

Founding and purpose

The APC was inaugurated in September 1949 during a public meeting held in Sydney, with similar launches occurring around the country. The movement sought to unify Australians who were concerned about escalating armament policies and the use of atomic weapons. Its formation was part of a broader international peace movement that included organizations such as the World Peace Council.

The founding conference attracted delegates from diverse sectors, including labor unions, women's organizations, churches, and Aboriginal rights groups. As reported by Tribune, the Communist Party-affiliated newspaper, the Council's platform emphasized support for the United Nations, denuclearization, and peaceful coexistence between nations, while opposing imperialist military alliances and foreign military bases on Australian soil.

Key figures

Among its early and notable members was Doris Blackburn, a former federal parliamentarian known for her outspoken opposition to war and nuclear weapons. At the time of the Council's founding, Blackburn was serving as national president of the Council for Civil Liberties and was actively involved in various humanitarian and social justice causes.

Other key figures included trade union leader Jim Healy and Aboriginal activist Douglas Nicholls, who would later work with Blackburn on the formation of the Aborigines Advancement League.

Activities and impact

Throughout the 1950s, the Australian Peace Council organized rallies, published educational pamphlets, and hosted conferences to engage the public on peace-related issues. It aligned with international anti-war campaigns and supported the Stockholm Appeal of 1950, which called for a total ban on nuclear weapons.

The Council faced criticism and surveillance from Australian authorities during the Cold War, particularly due to its association with left-wing and Communist Party activists. Despite this, it maintained a vocal presence in debates around Australia's foreign policy, ANZUS treaty participation, and military spending.

Legacy

The APC's legacy can be traced in later movements, including anti-Vietnam War protests and the nuclear disarmament campaigns of the 1980s.

Many of its former members, like Doris Blackburn, continued to contribute to peace, civil liberties, and Indigenous rights advocacy throughout their lives.