The following statement, issued by the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN), is extremely important and timely. The increasing militarisation of Australia threatens to drag us into a disastrous war against China, for United States domination of the oceans and against the right of nations to choose their own future. This poses a direct military, economic, and political threat to Australia. The statement is a prelude to the presentation of the report of IPAN’s people’s inquiry to the parliament by Senator Jordon Steele-John on 24 November.

A landmark new report by the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) highlights that “Never before has the need been so urgent to ‘stand on our own two feet’ and ‘chart our own course’ in foreign policy independent of the United States”.

“It is imperative we do this in order to avoid a war which would otherwise shatter our peace and impact drastically on our economy and jobs”, stated IPAN spokesperson, Dr Vince Scappatura.

IPAN believes that the preparation for war “is all too evident and extremely worrying”.

The rapid build-up of the United States military presence in the Northern Territory including 2,500 U.S. marines stationed in Darwin includes practicing for war against China with the Australian Defence Force.
The proposed stationing at RAAF Tindal of up to six U.S. B52 long range bombers capable of carrying a nuclear payload and the building of huge fuel and maintenance supply facilities in the NT for US fighters and bombers could only be in preparation for war.

In addition, the Federal Government’s decision to join with the US and UK in the AUKUS trilateral security pact includes Australia acquiring eight nuclear-propelled submarines for long distance hunter-killer operations and the equipping of Australia’s frigate fleet with tomahawk missiles for penetration deep into the Chinese mainland.

“It seems abundantly clear that the AUKUS arrangement is not for the defence of Australia but for preparations for launching aggression against China in support of maintaining United States’ dominance in the Asia-Pacific region”, stated Dr Vince Scappatura.

We need instead to chart our own course for our peace and security and that of our region – and this is the broad topic of IPAN’s national conference in Canberra on 23^rd November 2022.”

The Report on the IPAN People’s Inquiry “Charting our own Course. Questioning Australia’s Involvement in US-led Wars and the Australia– United States alliance. A People’s Inquiry” will be launched in Parliament House, in room 1S5 at 11am on 24^th November 2022 and presented to Parliament by Senator Jordon Steele-John.