NSW Greens MP Abigail Boyd condemned the Labor and Coalition “war parties” for supporting the war in her speech to a March 14 protest against Australia joining the United States-Israeli illegal war on Iran.
“Under the war parties, Australia has engineered itself deeper and more inextricably into the [US] war machine,” Boyd said. “We are increasingly compromised and complicit in the war crimes and immorality of the war crimes being waged against innocent civilian populations around the world.
“Australia was first out of the gate to endorse [US President Donald] Trump’s and [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s illegal assault on Iran. As the atrocities mount, they have only doubled down on their support. Australian weapons, matériel and personnel are directly involved in the war on Iran.
“The [Anthony] Albanese government has given up any pretence of supporting international law.”
The march was organised by Sydney Anti-AUKUS Coalition (SAAC) and endorsed by the Medical Association for the Prevention of War; City of Sydney for Palestine; Jews Against the Occupation ’48; Stop the War on Palestine; National Tertiary Education Union; Students Against War; Palestine Action Group; Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition, Palestine Justice Movement; Socialist Alliance; Communist Party of Australia; Solidarity; and Red Spark.
SAAC demanded that the Labor government pull back from its support for Israel and the US’ illegal strikes on Iran and push for the US and Israel to halt all military action.
“The expansion of the war into Lebanon and the Gulf states shows how reckless disregard for international law leads to disaster,” SAAC said.
“Australia’s support for AUKUS and its hosting of US bases helps fuel war, instead of dialogue and diplomacy … We call for AUKUS and the Force Posture Agreement (FPA) to be scrapped and demand the Labor government sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
“Further, we call on the government to review the alliance with the US, which is the overall framework for AUKUS and the FPA.
“An independent and peaceful foreign policy is the best way to be able to help the Iranian people decide on their future government.”
