Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN)
IPAN Patrons: Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe AO & Kellie Tranter Lawyer & Human Rights Activist
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 21 February 2025
A number of groups across Australia are taking action this Sunday as part of the Global Day of Action to Close Foreign Bases. Peace Activists like us are holding events on six continents today and you can find them all at daytoclosebases.org.
Events happening around the world include protests at the bases of various military complexes, educational events, lobbying efforts at government offices, and a variety of public demonstrations.
‘Military bases are part of a growing and disastrous global increase in spending on wars and preparations for wars’, stated Ms Annette Brownlie, IPAN’s Chairperson and spokesperson for IPAN on the Global Day of Action.
‘This increased militarism makes wars more likely, and the most likely targets are bases and anything near them’, stated Ms Brownlie.
‘Bases are often the worst environmental disaster sites, polluting air, soil, and water, and often generating horrific noise pollution’, stated Ms Brownlie.
Bases cost an exorbitant amount of money, with the cost of U.S. foreign military bases alone being estimated at $80 billion a year, money that could be better spent on healthcare, education, renewable energy, and so much more’, stated Ms Brownlie.
‘Foreign bases are often mini-apartheid states with second-class status for locals and criminal immunity for militaries — a situation that can often be traced back to stolen land and other injustices’, stated Ms Brownlie.
‘Through public pressure, bases have been closed, plans for bases have been blocked, and bases have been converted to other purposes, superior environmentally, economically, and in terms of achieving peace’, stated Ms Brownlie
‘We urge the Australian Government to assert its sovereignty and close down all foreign military bases in our country’, stated Ms Brownlie.
The following actions will take place at these sites across Australia:
ACT: Canberra: Sun 23rd, 2:00-3:00 pm Outside the US embassy Moonah Pl, Yarralumla
NSW: Sydney: Sat 22nd, 2.00 pm at the gates of Garden Island Naval Base Sydney, Cowper Wharf Rd and Wylde St, Potts Point.
Qld: Brisbane: Sat 22nd,1.00 – 5.30 pm St Barnabas Church Hall (The Barney), 28 St Barnabas Pl, Red Hill
Qld: Cairns: Sat 22nd, 2.00 – 4.00 pm HMAS Cairns, 54 Draper St, Portsmith
WA: Rockingham: Sun 23rd, 5.30 pm HMAS Stirling Naval Base Gates, HMAS Stirling Pass Office
For Media Interviews: Annette Brownlie 0431 597 256
IPAN Media Liaison: Jonathan Pilbrow, 0403 611 815
Bio: Annette Brownlie is founding member of the Brisbane based community peace organisation, Just Peace Queensland, and the current (and inaugural) chairperson of the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN), a position she has served in for over a decade. Annette has also been a board member of the International Peace Bureau since 2022.
Further Details below
Further Details re Events below
ACT: Canberra: Sun 23rd, 2:00-3:00 pm Outside the US embassy Moonah Pl, Yarralumla
Local contact: tamarajacka@gmail.com
Event Details: The US military dominates the world, with over 900 military bases on foreign soil. Be part of a worldwide nonviolent movement (World BEYOND War) on this day to demand the closure of all military bases – starting with US bases on Australian soil.
Organised by ACT Network Opposing War (ACTNoW)
NSW: Sydney: Sat 22nd, 2.00 pm Meet at the gates of Garden Island Naval Base Sydney, Cowper Wharf Rd and Wylde St, Potts Point. Local contact: denisdoherty@denisdoherty.org
Event Details: Plan to get there by bus, using the 311 bus route. Or via train, walk down from Kings Cross – a bit of a walk. Organised by the Sydney Anti-AUKUS Coalition – SAAC https://www.facebook.com/SydAntiAukusCoalition
Qld: Brisbane: Sat 22nd,1.00 – 5.30 pm St Barnabas Church Hall (The Barney), 28 St Barnabas Pl, Red Hill
Local Contact: maureentodhunter@gmail.com
Event Details: Event Details: Discussion of the significance of this Day of Action, particularly regarding U.S. naval bases, satellite communication surveillance facilities, and air bases in Australia, will be incorporated into the second and third parts of the afternoon.
1:00pm ODE TO WOMEN: A PEACE PLAY+ post-show discussion with the Artists
3.30pm BEING A PEACE ACTIVIST: PERSONAL, POLITICAL, BEYOND. A panel discussion + Q&A.
The four panelists will be speaking to their peace activist experiences in Sri Lanka, Japan, Singapore, and Australia have been invited to include insights regarding bases and closing them in their panel contributions.
5:00pm APRES Peace Drinks & Music: flute/guitar and songs/poetry.
Organised by Just Peace Qld
Qld: Cairns Sat 22nd, 2.00 – 4.00 pm HMAS Cairns, 54 Draper St, Portsmith
Event Details: ‘We will picket both the HMAS Naval Base and also BAE Systems office which is directly opposite. Bring placards and banners if you have them or are able to make one. HMAS Cairns = BAE Systems = Genocide and War Crimes! Earth care not Warfare! Stop Arming Israel! Write your own message. Palestinian flags acceptable’.
Organised by World BEYOND War, Australia, World Peace Now ॐ, World Peace Now ॐ – Australia – FNQ, Free Palestine FNQ https://www.facebook.com/groups/worldpeacenowfnq
WA: Rockingham: Sun 23rd, 5.30 pm HMAS Stirling Naval Base Gates, HMAS Stirling Pass Office
Local contact: Colin Hughes: 0403 027 323; drwhos@iinet.net.au
Details: ‘We will gather and take a photo at the gates of the HMAS Stirling Naval Base’
Organised by IPAN (WA)