The Quaker Peace & Legislative Committee has just completed a report on Australia’s opaque arms trade and obligations under international law. Below is the Executive Summary of the report. To read the full report CLICK HERE.
Australia has an obligation to ensure its military trade does not support human rights abuses. The Arms Trade Treaty, which Australia championed, is falling short of its vision to reduce harms from military trade globally. Australia’s current military trade architecture fails basic standards of public accountability as well as undermining the vision of the Arms Trade Treaty. This report recommends a parliamentary inquiry to review the architecture governing Australia’s military trade, as a first step towards Australia meeting global best practice and returning to a role of leadership in arms control.
Australia’s military industry is growing rapidly. Australia has doubled its percentage share of global military exports of major arms in four years. Figures indicate Australia’s actual exports may have doubled from 2020-3, and the value of permits have increased in value in that time by 3000%. Recent Australian Governments have set a goal for Australia to become one of the ten largest military exporters globally, including developing significant infrastructure to grow the industry.
Australia’s military industry is opaque – neither the public nor parliament have detailed knowledge of what military goods Australia is exporting, to where or for what purpose. The historical lack of regulation of the arms trade globally has massive implications for human security. It is believed that 40% of global corruption is in the military trade. The Arms Trade Treaty came into force in 2014 and seeks to reduce human suffering by regulating the trade in conventional arms. Australia played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Arms Trade Treaty, with Australian diplomat Peter Woolcott presiding over final negotiations. The Treaty establishes global standards, including prohibiting arms sales when there is an overriding risk of them being used in serious human rights violations, including war crimes, gender-based violence or violence against women and children.