More than 200 people packed the Coburg Town Hall on October 29 to discuss how to resist public money being used to prop up weapons corporations at the expense of essential services.
The event was organised by Money for Good, a coalition of groups campaigning against militarism in general and Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
It aims to raise awareness about the enormous amount of public funding channelled by the government to the booming weapons manufacturing industries.
Funding is expected to reach $765 billion over the decade, according to Labor’s 2024 National Defence Strategy.
Seven speakers addressed the forum, including NSW Greens Senator David Shoebridge and former Al Jazeera journalist Hashmat Moslih. Priya Reddy, an activist in the campaign against chemical company Electromold, chaired the event.
After Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Elder Uncle Andrew Gardiner gave the acknowledgement to Country, Tasnim, a Palestinian organiser with Free Palestine Coalition Naarm, spoke about the movement to oppose Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Moslih criticised Labor’s spending on weapons and the military saying “Australia is following in the direction of the United States” by turning itself into a military economy.
Shoebridge criticised Labor and the Coalition for preparing the country for war, including for a conflict with China, and made the case for an independent foreign policy.
Former Australian Education Union councillor Mary Merkenich spoke about how education is being underfunded by state and federal governments. She said militarism is being normalised within the education system, through science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs.
Mercedes Zanker, an activist with Renegade Activists, discussed how manufacturers of military components, such as Electromold and Heat Treatment Australia, are being propped up financially by Labor’s policies.
Housing advocate Jordan van den Lamb also spoke.
Discussion focused on the next steps in developing campaigns against weapons manufacturing, with everyone agreeing that public funding needed to be allocated to hospitals, housing, community programs and climate adaptation.
The coalition has plans to organise more forums, including in Dandenong and Geelong.
[Watch the live stream of the event here.]