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Oppose militarism and war

International tensions are rising. This is leading to more wars, tighter border controls, economic nationalism, and increased military spending. 

Australia’s role in all this has thus far been shaped by our alliance with the United States, the most powerful and murderous nation the world has ever seen. This has led to Australia’s shameful involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, our aggressive intervention in a range of Pacific Island nations, and our continued support for Israel. 

Worst of all, the Liberal and Labor parties have signed on to the AUKUS agreement, which requires us to spend hundreds of billions of dollars in exchange for nuclear-powered attack submarines. These submarines, and the AUKUS policy more generally, have nothing to do with defence, and instead are about empowering the US to target China more aggressively. It places Australia in the middle of a great power rivalry that threatens a catastrophic world war.

What we think

  1. Socialists oppose Australian involvement in great power rivalries or imperialist conflicts.
  2. Australia should withdraw from all alliances with major imperialist powers and instead pursue a policy of non-alignment.
  3. Victorian Socialists oppose Australian support for Israel on the grounds that it is an apartheid state; we stand in solidarity with the Palestinians.
  4. Nuclear weapons and nuclear energy programs have no place in a peaceful society.

We'll fight to

  1. End Australia’s aggressive, militaristic international posturing.
  2. End Australia’s participation in the US-led drive to war with China.
  3. Tear up AUKUS, scrap the US alliance and close all US bases and surveillance infrastructure on Australian soil
  4. Cut military funding - no to a new armaments program. Redirect military funding to healthcare, housing, and education.
  5. Oppose new nuclear weapons or nuclear energy programs
  6. End uranium mining and exports
  7. Disband the SAS for their repeated involvement in war crimes
  8. End Australia’s support for the apartheid state of Israel - we will demand a free Palestine and stand in solidarity with Palestinians against Israeli aggression
  9. Close Israeli embassy and expel its diplomats
  10. Send emergency aid to trusted civil society groups in Gaza and the West Bank
  11. Secure citizenship rights for all recently arrived refugees from Gaza
  12. End Australia’s interference in the affairs of countries in the Asia Pacific
  13. Support independence for West Papua and other oppressed nations.