The latest Quaker Peace & Legislative Committee Watching Brief outlines Australian Quakers’ support for the Red Lines Package, which calls for greater transparency in Australia’s arms trade.
The Package is led by Liberty Victoria’s Rights Advocacy Project, Amnesty International, the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network and the Jewish Council of Australia.
The Package was launched at Parliament House in September 2026 and the bills were also introduced that month. Neither the Government nor the Opposition supported a debate on the matters raised in the Package, and the legislation has not progressed at the time of this Brief.
Key Points of the Package
The Red Lines Package proposes four legislative reforms to strengthen Australia’s safeguards against complicity in genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and illegal settlement activity. Developed by independent legal experts, the package aims to bring Australia’s international treaty obligations into domestic law.
- Defence Trade Controls: Restrict military supplies where there is a real risk of their use in international crimes, require end-use checks and establish a public defence export register.
- Genocide: Prohibit complicity, require reporting of activities that could support genocide, establish an Anti-Genocide Commissioner and impose penalties for non-compliance.
- Treasury: Prohibit investment linked to illegal settlements and violations of international law, with due diligence, divestment and penalties.
- Occupied Territories: Prohibit importing and selling goods from occupied territory, using settlers’ services and extracting natural resources.
Action Items
Quakers Australia asks readers to support the Red Lines Package: contact your local MP, ask them to read the draft legislation and support its reintroduction for debate, and sign the petition. Together, we can advocate for transparent, accountable use of public resources and safeguards against Australia enabling international crimes.