Amnesty International Australia has condemned the failure of the Australian Government today to support steps towards legal limits on Australian weapons, investments and trade being used to support war crimes, and has vowed to continue pressure on the government to ensure an inquiry into the Red Lines Package of legislation.
Labor and the Coalition have combined to vote against a Senate inquiry into the Red Lines bills, which would establish enforceable safeguards across four areas: defence exports, public investment, trade with illegally occupied territories, and the prevention of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Australia continues to provide arms and components to the global F-35 supply chain and until Australia takes real action it is violating its obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty and international law.
Andrew Witheford, Amnesty International Australia’s International and Crisis Campaigner says:
“Amnesty International condemns the government’s failure to uphold human rights principles and put clear enforceable, red lines into Australian law to prevent the trade in weapons for war crimes.
“Australians expect their government to live by the international standards they have agreed to support, and we will continue our public campaign along with our partners to ensure that this legislation gets the appropriate consideration by the Australian parliament.
Andrew Witheford, Amnesty International Australia’s International and Crisis Campaigner
“Currently, Australia lags behind the rest of the world in fulfilling our obligations under international law.
“Just last week the UK, France and Canada committed to banning trade in goods and associated services from illegal Israeli settlements, as a wider group of 12 countries moves towards trade restrictions.
“This avoidance of scrutiny by the Australian Government comes despite widespread community support for the concrete action to prevent Australian weapons, components and public resources from contributing to violations of international law,” said Andrew Witheford.
Earlier this week, Amnesty International presented a petition supported by 125,000 Australians demanding for greater transparency and stronger national arms controls.
The Red Lines package of legislation is backed by a broad alliance of parliamentarians, leading legal experts and civil society organisations, including Amnesty International Australia, the Association for the Promotion of International Law, Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, Jewish Council of Australia, Oxfam Australia, ActionAid Australia, Liberty Victoria’s Rights Advocacy Project, Australian Muslim Advocacy Network and MAA International.
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.
Act now or learn more about our human rights work.
