Former prime minister Malcolm Fraser has warned the Gillard government's decision to allow exports of uranium to India will contribute to a global spread of nuclear weapons.
Mr Fraser has used Australia Day to launch a petition signed by 713 Order of Australia recipients, urging the government to ban nuclear weapons.
Signatories include former prime ministers Bob Hawke and Gough Whitlam, former foreign ministers Gareth Evans and Andrew Peacock, and former high court justices.
"What we want to do is keep the idea of a nuclear-free world alive," Mr Fraser told ABC radio on Thursday.
He criticised the government's decision to allow uranium exports to India, given the developing nation had not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
"There is no doubt that exports to India will make it easier for India to divert uranium for weapons purposes," Mr Fraser said.
He believes US policy under former US president George Bush has contributed to the spread of nuclear weapons, and countries like Iran and North Korea have responded accordingly.
"They will be safer if they have nuclear weapons," he said.
Mr Fraser added US President Barack Obama was not devoting attention to the problem because he had become marred in domestic politics, and was struggling to be re-elected.
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