Pro-Palestine protesters to ‘blockade’ NSW government-sponsored arms expo
Pro-Palestinian protesters will gather at a convention center in Sydney to “blockade” an arms fair.
Protesters are expected to gather outside the IMAX theater at 6.30am on Tuesday before marching to the International Convention Center (ICC) in Darling Harbour.
The ICC hosts the three-day Indo-Pacific International Maritime Expo, supported primarily by the NSW government and Investment NSW.
The event is expected to bring together a wide range of groups, from weapons manufacturers such as BAE Systems to KPMG, from universities to civilian manufacturers.
On the event’s website, Defense Minister Richard Marles’ welcome note describes the event as “one of the world’s leading international maritime exhibitions.”
“It showcases the close collaboration between the Australian Defense Force, the defense industry, international partners and other agencies.
“All are working towards the common goal of maritime security and a peaceful, prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
Greens motion to condemn arms fair
Last week the City of Sydney voted to condemn the incident.
The motion, introduced by Green Councilor Matthew Thompson, stated that “many of the major stakeholders and sponsors of this event have direct links to current and historical conflicts – they reap staggering profits from misery and suffer conflict and war.”
The motion also included a request for Lord Mayor Clover Moore to write to Premier Chris Minns urging future events “promoting and profiting from the sale of war vehicles and weapons” not be hosted by the state government in the City of Sydney local government area.
Australian manufacturers became the target of protests
The expo will include a series of panel events including the Royal Australian Navy, the European Union’s delegation to Australia and the University of NSW.
Other participants include Australian defense manufacturer BAE Systems, which holds the contract to manufacture Australian F-35 jet components.
American arms manufacturer Raytheon, aircraft companies including Boeing, Australian steel producer BlueScope and many other companies will also have stands at the fair.
The protest is mainly organized by the Palestine Action Group, which has been organizing pro-Palestinian marches almost every week for the past two years.
Australian companies that activists say are linked to or complicit in transfers to Israel have been repeatedly targeted by activists.
Former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas was allegedly attacked by a police officer during a protest outside gun plating company SEC Plating in Belmore in June.
SEC Plating has denied supplying jet components used by the Israel Defense Forces.
