The three wave mobilisation model:
Between October 25 and April 26 Wage Peace tried a new thing, a big thing. We ran a three wave mobilisation against weapons makers (harms dealers) across this continent. Each wave spanned several states. Each wave saw weapons factories blockaded, MPs picketed, rallies, workshops, marches and lots of time and space for building community.
Defence Minister Richard Marles was targeted again and again for his belligerent support for the US war machine. Lock down actions ran at weapons makers Marand, Lockheed Martin, Nupress, Ferra, BAE, Boeing, Leonardo and Rosebank. Rallies, marches, banner drops, workshops, public meetings and shared meals gathered our people and honed our skills.
Our activism relies on our community. Online and in person activist skill shares are an essential component of our organising, and are always offered free of charge. We feed and shelter everybody, for free, during every mobilisation.
We have a way to go to end the genocide in Gaza, to decolonise this continent and to end Empire. But. In terms of growing and nurturing a care-based community of resistance, we are winning.
Wave 1: Cross-Continental Antimilitarist Actions to Stop F35s
The First Wave of our Weapons Out mobilisation included 18 anti-militarist actions in 5 states. The launch was a redecoration of the giant US eagle statue in front of Parliament House in Canberra, a potent symbol of Australia’s obeisance to the United States’ military. The activists involved are still before the court. We think they should win an award.
People blockaded F-35 suppliers Marand in Geelong, Boeing in Adelaide, HTA in Brisbane (pictured), Thales in Darwin and Leonardo in Naarm (pictured) with a frog and several clowns.
Wave 1 Gallery: October 2025
Wave 2: Muloobinba / Newcastle: F35 Ground Zero
Wave 2 was hosted by Demilitarise Newcastle, a fabulous team of committed antimilitarists. Muloobinba is where Lockheed Martin and BAE store F35 parts, it is where the RAAF Williamtown base ships the parts for export, and is the proposed site for ‘Astro Aerolab’, an entirely made up name for a new, purpose-built military industrial complex where the US can offshore its weapons production.
Of course, we visited all of these sites. We cycled around them, held banners, made speeches and climbed on top of Lockheed and Nupress, key F35 players.
Rising Tide has just happened, and we were able to connect there to press home that COAL TO WEAPONS IS NOT A JUST TRANSITION. The Hunter Valley needs to get out of coal and into future-friendly economics. Instead, Newcastle is gearing towards a weapons based economy. Resisting militarism and defending earth are the same thing, which is why we called this wave EARTHCARE NOT WARFARE.
The Nupress Story
Nupress in Newcastle got the shock of their lives when they arrived at their weapons factory at 6am to find two humans dancing on the roof.
A large banner reading NUPRESS ARMS GENOCIDE hung from the roof as the pair waved a Palestine flag to the beat.
A small crowd of supporters had locked the gates and hung banners across the front fence, supporting the roof-occupiers with snacks and cheers.
Eventually police with ladders and a cherry picker arrested the pair and charged them with dancing on a weapons factory (aka trespass or something). Harms dealer blocked = WIN!!!
Wave 2 Gallery
Wave 3: the export process
Our 3 waves mobilisation zeroed in on the supply chain for Lockheed Martin’s genocide jets, the F35s. These planes can’t fly without Australian parts. If we can end F35 exports from Australia we can ground the US and Israeli fleets, saving thousands of lives.
During Wave 3 groups across the continent called out Thai Air for carrying F35 parts to Israel. We called out the Defence Department officials whose hands sign the export permits. We called out the manufacturers profiting from genocide. We made a huge stir in Thailand, where Thai Air’s complicity was unknown, and our campaign expanded to include Thailand, the US and Canada, causing the company to quake for a few weeks there.
We can’t stop and won’t stop acting for peace in our world. If you missed out on these mobilisations, make sure you get to the next one! There are meaningful roles for everyone.
Wave 3 Gallery
