Media Release – for immediate release 20 February 2024
20 February 2024
Representatives of more than 30 community organisations have endorsed the Marrickville Declaration, a document that highlights the dangers of the AUKUS agreement and commits the signatories to a campaign for the Australian government to withdraw from the pact.
Meeting at Marrickville, Sydney, in February, the groups set themselves the ambitious, yet necessary, goal to galvanise broad social support to oppose AUKUS and the war drive against China being pursued by the United States and blindly followed by the Australian government.
Together, they have established a committee to Mobilise Against AUKUS and War, which will cooperate with existing labour movement and peace groups, faith groups and broad progressive organisations to build a stronger peace and nuclear disarmament movement.
Speaking for Mobilise Against AUKUS and War, Dr Alison Broinowski from Australians for War Powers Reform said: “The unthinking continuation of Scott Morrison’s AUKUS policy by the Albanese government has been a deep disappointment. But more than that, it is a dangerous policy that threatens Australian lives and our environment.
“We are not only at risk of being dragged into a deadly war, the government also has no plans to deal with the high-level nuclear waste generated by the AUKUS submarines. And we know that AUKUS funds from Australia are already underwriting the US nuclear weapons industry.
“The US has become an unstable ally. With Donald Trump a real chance of returning to the White House, we cannot risk Australian lives with AUKUS.”
Joint spokesperson, Peter Murphy from the Sydney Anti-AUKUS Coalition, said: “AUKUS is not only a colossal waste of money, it also ratchets up the drive to war in a way that is dangerous to the Australian people and the people of the Asia-Pacific. We are committed to building a broad unity to make the government see sense and reverse its involvement.
“While most focus has been on the disastrous nuclear submarine policy, it is vital to remember that AUKUS will commit Australian scientific resources to military priorities. Our scientific expertise in quantum computing, artificial intelligence and robotics should serve human need, not the dogs of war.”
Lilli Barto of Wage Peace welcomed the statement. She said: “The declaration comes out of concerns the AUKUS agreement locks Australia into aggressive steps to secure US global supremacy and Western interests rather than create any meaningful safety for Australians or anyone else. AUKUS locks Australia into again joining wars for the US empire, rather than supporting freedom, security, and self-determination for the Global South.”
The Marrickville Declaration highlights that the $368 billion to be spent on nuclear submarines detracts from addressing urgent social and community needs, not least the fight against the impact of climate change.
The signatories of the Marrickville Declaration stand in solidarity with First Nations communities, who will inevitably be left to bear the consequences of any nuclear waste and/or testing facilities built on unceded Indigenous land.
The Declaration calls on signatories to oppose AUKUS through all non-violent means available and promote peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
It calls on the government to provide full details of the AUKUS agreement, including its purpose, timing and cost, and to initiate a thorough investigation into ensuring national security, including through a truly independent foreign and military policy.
The Declaration comes nearly a year after Marrickville Peace Group hosted a public meeting in Marrickville Town Hall, under the title “Can War be Avoided or Will Our Peace be Shattered?”.
That meeting, addressed by former Foreign Minister Bob Carr, Senator David Shoebridge, Dr Alison Broinowski and US Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, took place just a few days after the AUKUS agreement was finalised in San Diego. Hundreds attended the meeting in the Prime Minister’s electorate, demonstrating strong public opposition to the AUKUS project.
For further comment contact:
Dr Alison Broinowski: 0422 608 580 / broinowska@gmail.com
Peter Murphy: 0418 312 301 / peter_murphy1_au@bigpond.com
For general information, contact Nick Deane, Marrickville Peace Group,
0420 526 929 / homishdu@yahoo.com.au