Spindler calls for defence inquiry

Spindler calls for defence inquiry

By Joseph O'Reilly

After being arrested for trespass at the Nurrungar Easter protest, Senator Sid Spindler, the Democrats' defence spokesperson, announced he was introducing a private member's bill to establish a parliamentary commission of inquiry into Australia's security needs.

"Nurrungar is an illustration of the misdirected defence priorities of the Australian government", Spindler said.

"The Cold War has ended, and the Asia-Pacific region is undergoing rapid change, demanding a new approach to Australia's security needs which takes account of economic, social and environmental factors.

"Australian defence strategy is stuck in a narrow militaristic groove which brings Australia into conflict with international human rights by assisting in the repression and genocide of indigenous peoples in East Timor, Bougainville, Tibet and West Papua."

Spindler said US defence activity on Australian soil was "a national disgrace".

"A more rational allocation of Australia's $10 billion military spending, including $30 million spent on Nurrungar, would be to address our pressing social and economic problems."

From GLW issue 96