Page 977 - Week 03 - Thursday, 7 April 2022
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Lockheed Martin promotes and profits from militarised approaches to conflicts, thus predisposing us to more wars which might otherwise have been prevented. The company and those founded with it co-founded the US committee to expand NATO, helped build momentum for the catastrophic invasion of Iraq, and saw benefits in the war in Syria and in tensions between India and Pakistan. As one analyst part-funded by Lockheed has commented, “It’s hard to sell a frontline fighter to a country that isn’t threatened.” Of course, the company joins in fanning the flames of war with China.
Lockheed Martin’s products and services do not stop with fighter jets, warships, assault weapons, missiles and missile defence, and electronic warfare systems. They include items that are ethically dubious or some of which are outright illegal, including nuclear weapons, which are now banned under the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, drones which terrorise civilians and have killed thousands, and military interrogation. Further to all of this, the company’s customers include some of the world’s worst human rights abusers.
We know from an independent Ipsos survey commissioned by the Medical Association for Prevention of War that the majority of Australians—59 per cent of us—believe that the War Memorial should not accept money from companies that profit from the sale of weapons. Even more, 68 per cent, believe the War Memorial should not accept money from companies that produce weapons of mass destruction. Our community here does not support it, and the Australian War Memorial should reconsider accepting any further contracts with any weapons manufacturer.
I thank the Medical Association for Prevention of War for their strong advocacy on this issue and the work they have done to bring this to my attention. I thank the local Canberrans who are working hard to advocate on this issue and are hoping to end this funding.
I understand this issue has been brought to the attention of the Australian War Memorial, and it is on the public record. It should have been part of their due diligence when they were accepting funds. I hope they have realised that accepting Lockheed Martin’s funds helps to promote a culture of warfare rather than honouring those who have tragically lost their lives in wars. We are all hoping they do the right thing and refuse war money.
Canberra—community and arts events
MS CHEYNE (Ginninderra—Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Business and Better Regulation, Minister for Human Rights and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (5.32): I want to finish the sitting week adjournment debates in the manner in which I started—by reflecting on the incredible array of community events which have been, and continue to be, on offer in our city as we emerge from some of the most difficult few years of our lives.
I recently joined the Ginninderra Catchment Group as part of their Clean Up Australia Day initiatives which they held through the month of March, with a particular focus
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