Anti-war protesters gathered outside deputy prime minister and member for Corio Richard Marles’ office just days after he attended Hanwha Defence’s Avalon manufacturing facility.
Mr Marles joined minister for industry and advanced manufacturing Colin Brooks and state member for Lara Ella George to witness the first AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers roll off the production line at Avalon on Thursday 26 February.
The vehicles were manufactured as part of the Australian Army’s $1 billion LAND 8116 project at the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE).
Alongside the state government’s $10 million Victorian Land Systems Fund and Supply Chain Uplift program, which helps small and medium businesses join Hanwha Defence’s supply chain, the program will create more than 1000 direct jobs, according to Labor.
“This milestone cements Victoria’s position at the centre of Australia’s defence manufacturing capability, supporting highly skilled jobs, strengthening sovereign capability and driving long-term economic growth,” Mr Brooks said.
“Built right here in Victoria, these vehicles showcase the strength of Victoria’s advanced manufacturing industry, the expertise of our skilled workforce and the significant economic benefits of world-class production.”
On 1 March, protesters rallied outside Mr Marles’ Brougham Street electoral office, decrying Australia’s support of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend.
The rally was organised by peace organisation The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN), which put out a statement on Monday.
IPAN chairperson Annette Brownlie called on prime minister Anthony Albanese to “unequivocally condemn” the recent bombing in Iran, in particular a strike that killed over 100 people, mostly children, at a school.
“This shocking loss of innocent life is a brutal escalation of an already illegal conflict and demands immediate and forceful condemnation from the Australian government”, Ms Brownlie said.
“Australia’s complicity through the Pine Gap surveillance base, which provides intelligence gathering, targeting data for United States strikes, and missile defence, makes a clear and independent stance from our government even more urgent.
“We also call on the Australian government to condemn the Israeli bombing of Beirut which reportedly killed 31 people and injured 149.
“Attacking Iran is not a path to peace or stability, but a recipe for wider regional conflict and we call on the Australian government to clearly distance itself from this reckless course of action.”
