Australian arms trade under scrutiny amid court case, protest against Israel

SHAH ALAM - Protests at shipping ports and a court case are bringing attention to Australia and its weapons exports to Israel amidst the genocidal attacks in Gaza, a trade that critics dub “secretive and accountable”.

Australian Greens Senator David Shoebridge told the Australian Senate on Tuesday that few people know about this and must be uncovered for full transparency.

He highlighted this practices were “the norm” by the Australian government was in stark contrast to how it was done in the United States. He stated that similar situation - uncovering trade of weapons - was a serious breach of transparency measures and rejected by the US congress.

“Few people know that Australia has one of the most secretive, unaccountable weapons export systems in the world,” he added.

Australian media reported that a legal challenge launched in Australia’s high court on Monday last week by Palestinian and Australian human rights organisations is also seeking to shed light on the dark trade.

The case, a first of its kind in the land down under, comes as Australian pro-Palestinian supporters joined the international “block the boat” movement to protest against arms shipments to Israel.

A protest at Sydney’s Port Botany took place on Saturday as protestors, together with union members, attempted to block the arrival of a vessel owned by shipping line ZIM - a major transporter of armaments. The ship itself never entered the port and redirected upon news of the demonstration.

Crowds gathered at Port Botany to protest the Israeli-owned ship. (Photo by NCA NewsWire/Dylan Robinson)

However, determining whether shipments from Australia do, in fact, include weapons that are being sent to Israel is difficult due to a general lack of transparency around Australia’s growing military export industry.

“Our government doesn’t tell us who we’re exporting weapons to; doesn’t tell us what the weapons are; doesn’t tell us who profits here in Australia from the sale of weapons,” Shoebridge said in the Senate.

He said such information was much less available in Australia than in other countries, including the United States.

Reports have stated that based on the Australian Department of Defence, the country has issued 350 defence export permits to Israel since 2017, including 52 this year alone. This information was only made publicly available after direct questions from Shoebridge during Senate hearings this year.