A handful of determined protestors picketed outside the Four Seasons Hotel this morning, the site of a military, defence and weapons conference, ‘The Defence Strategic Review’.
In the midst of Australia’s biggest military build up in decades, costing billions of dollars, the conference featured a host of former politicians from both the Liberals and Labor, including current Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles, the current Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conway and former Defence Minister, Christopher Pyne (whose military lobbying company co-partnered the conference). Christopher Pyne was heckled as he arrived. Also attending were various lobbyists and defence-related firms, including ex-military officers.
This morning’s protesters aimed to bring focus to the revolving door of defence ministers from ‘both sides’ of politics, who walk into corporate defence and weapons-related jobs, demonstrating the nexus between government and the military industrial complex. Examples include Christopher Pyne (LNP), Steven Smith (ALP), Brendon Nelson (LNP), and Kim ‘Bomber’ Beazley (ALP).
The protesters pointed out that while Australia launches into unprecedented spending on nuclear submarines and guided missiles, economic recession looms as ordinary workers, families and the unemployed struggle to make ends meet. It is a cruel irony that these people are likely to be the first victims of any war that might break out.
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