Following earlier exhibitions in support of the arms trade, there is to be another major event in Melbourne. It is called the Land Forces 2024 International Land Defence Exposition, and will be held from 11 to 13 September 2024 at the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre. It aims to promote production and trade and enhance Australia’s position in the military-industrial complex. The Victorian Government is the principal sponsor. See www.landforces.com.au
From the Quaker Peace & Legislative Committee…
Via a three-day program integrating Australia’s largest defence industry exhibition, a comprehensive mix of expert presentations, conferences and symposia exploring the current challenges and opportunities arising within the land defence sector and daily networking opportunities, Land Forces 2024 will set the stage for business and engagement. Land Forces 2024 is an industry-only trade exposition reserved for those with a professional, defence, governmental agency, business, academic, scientific, operational or response involvement in land defence related government and industry sectors. The event is not open to the general public.
For context, there are ten large companies that dominate the global arms trade which amounts to $US375b a year. They are – Lockheed Martin $40.8b, Boeing $29.5b, Raytheon $22.9b, BAE Systems $22.8b, Northrop Grumman $21.4b, GD 19.2b, Airbus $12.5b, BAE (US) $9.3b, L3 8.9b, Leonardo 8.5b. The firms that dominate Australia’s trade are Lockheed, BAE Systems and Thales, and there are up to 3000 small and medium enterprises involved in some level of the trade. See www.visualcapitalist.com. This week the federal government has agreed under the AUKUS plan to encourage a substantial licence-exempt flow of weapons among US, UK and Australia.
Quaker Responses
Over the years, Quakers have sought ways to join in protests at arms trade events around the country, including joining the Disrupt Land Forces (DLF) Campaign. QPLC have also just decided to focus the energies of the peaceworker on a political advocacy campaign about transparency and accountability of Australian military trade. Quakers Australia has signed the following Open Letter about Land Forces https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerft8aehvW6WEFqT7cThe two key messages of the Disrupt Land Forces campaign this year are Earthcare not Warfare and Arms Embargo/End the Arms Trade. Friends can also contribute financially at https://chuffed.org/project/disrupt-land-forces.
Friends and public who want to become involved can download the Telegram app and join Disrupt Land Forces, or contact Christine Venner-Westaway (QRM) – venwest50@gmail.com.