Anti-war and peace activists are planning to picket a naval arms bazaar, , being organised in Sydney, May 10鈥12, at Darling Harbour.
The Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition spokesperson Denis Doherty said both major parties鈥 support for AUKUS locks them into 鈥渨asting billions on weapons that would be better spent on livable welfare payments, combating global warming, and bushfire and flood mitigation鈥.
鈥淭he expo is sponsored by the New South Wales and federal governments and includes merchants of death from Europe, the United States and Israel,鈥 Doherty said.
鈥淏uyers from impoverished countries will be there to spend big dollars that should instead be used to meet their people鈥檚 needs, rather than profits for the arms corporations.鈥
The expo is being supported by weapons and security corporations including Thales, Boeing, BAE Systems, CEA Technologies, Northop Grumman as well as ANZ Bank.
Indo Pacific Expo鈥檚 website states that the Royal Australian Navy is acquiring or planning to introduce 鈥29 major new vessels, including a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, nine Hunter-class frigates and 12 Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels鈥.
It will exhibit 鈥渦pgrades to existing platforms鈥 including 鈥渁n enhanced long-range strike capability, along with associated electronics and communications systems, sensors and munitions鈥.
鈥淥ther navies of the Indo Pacific region are embarking upon similar upgrades鈥, the organisers state, 鈥渨ith many acquiring or seeking to acquire new vessels and aircraft, patrol boats, submarines, landing craft, frigates and supporting systems鈥.
Doherty said that the cost of one nuclear submarine could pay for 11,560 public houses or 43,452 nurses. He said people should join the picket on May 10 at the聽International Convention Centre to 鈥渢ell the Morrison government, the military and the arms dealers that it is time to聽disarm the seas鈥.