Lil interviews a teacher from regional NSW – proving that STEM education doesn’t need to cost us our integrity.
#DemilitariseEducation
War Profiteers
Demilitarise UQ: A Petition to UQ from an Autonomous Student Group
This petition was constructed in May 2024 at the height of the Student Encampments. UQ students were camping out. An article comes out from Australian anti-militarist independent journal Declassified Australia pointing to millions being spent by the US Department of Defence.
Demilitarise UQ was a campaign by students at UQ aimed at exposing research arrangements with the US Department of Defence.
This petition demands that UQ pledge to cease receiving funding from ANY foreign government’s defence department. Boeing, a company that profits off of genocides in places such as Palestine and West Papua, has a centre at the St Lucia campus, and after a recent report from Declassified Australia detailing funding received from foreign governments, the lack of integrity of the University can no longer be questioned.
The report confirmed that the United States Defence Department has funded $394 million to Australian universities via grants and contracts since 2007. The article revealed that the University of Queensland was the second-highest recipient of this funding during this time- at $60.5 million.
The same institutions that educate our populous should not be allowed to profit off of violence, and it is urgent that their support of the military industrial complex ceases.
The university requested to meet. Here’s the letter we sent back outlining the broader issues.
24/05/2024For the Queensland University Leadership
To: Andrew Flannery
Chief Operating Officer
UQ
Dear Andrew
Thank you for your response to Demilitarise UQ following delivery of our open letter. The letter has more than 1100 signs. We would like to meet as soon as possible for a preliminary meeting before the UQ Student General Meeting on Wednesday. Please propose a date and time.
These are the issues for discussion:
- Boeing is the key profiteer in the genocide in Palestine. Bomb kit parts for Boeing made bombs are designed and made in Brisbane. UQ research would most definitely have been used for this killing instrument. Boeing is THE KEY profiteer from this genocide and has an invested interest in promoting and prolonging and wars in general.
- The recent Declassified Australia report confirmed that the United States Defence Department has funded $394 million to Australian universities via grants and contracts since 2007. The article revealed that the UQ was the second-highest recipient of this funding during this time – at $60.5 million. The US Defence Department operationalises military research and weapons sales on behalf of the “military industrial complex”. US weapons have been overwhelmingly used to kill millions of civilians during this period.
- We see alarming signs of “state capture” as described in the Confronting State Capture Report (2022) https://australiandemocracy.org.au/statecapture. It asserts that the hollowing out and repurposing of institutions is one of six key mechanisms by which private actors exercise power to shape policies in the service of their own narrow interest. E.g. Dr Greta Nabbs Keller is the deputy director of a “Defence Research Unit”. Greta Nabbs Keller is ex-military. In her position she has paved the way for Gen Mick Ryan to occupy an adjunct role as a “lecturer”. There is no academic consensus for his ‘opinions’. It is believed that he serves the Pentagon and weapons industry interests
- We are concerned that more Australian and US Defence Department, military and weapons industry money comes through the opaque UQ Corporation which is not accountable to the public or public education.
- We also see signs that the engineering department has been militarised. We have heard from students that potentially, most engineering academics are current and past military. Many are working in weapons development. First year engineers are recruited with a discourse on sustainability and ideal contribution to society. By second year, they are funnelled via ‘projects’ to military and “space” oriented work. This perspective has been articulated in a letter to the Chancellor, by Adjunct Professor David Hood and Emeritus Professor Colin Apelt – both long serving members of the Engineering faculty (letter attached).
- Regarding “Defence” which is used as an excuse for this militarism: The climate crisis is the only real security threat for Australians.
- UQ should demand proper funding from the government for the education of students.
These are things that we think should be urgently addressed if the university is turned around from being a place that explicitly facilitates genocide.
Students for Palestine have a set of clear demands, which we fully support. The university should have no ties with weapons companies, nor take money from foreign governments.
Yours sincerely,
Lachlan Booth
Demilitarise UQ
24-5-2024
@A15Actions
Wage Peace-Disrupt War joins global #A15action across the Great South Land
When we started WagePeace-DisruptWar, we wanted to help people like you get out on the street when the killing starts. Militarism is all about killing.
We have seen 6 months of killing in Gaza. You know this is an escalation; even compared with Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam. The United States, the UK, Australia, they’ll force it to all to happen again if we are not on the streets.
We are joining the April 15 (#A15) day of action against the genocide in Australia. People say NO to GENOCIDE in Gaza. Never again means NEVER AGAIN FOR ANYONE.
We are getting close. Things are shifting. So many of you are taking such great steps. We welcome the growth of an awesome anti militarism movement.
Actions are planned at Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Geelong, Darwin, Canberra, Alice Springs, Bendigo, Woollongong.
Still looking for a target in your neighbourhood? Wage Peace has developed a weapons map showing the locations of weapons companies building components for the F35. Based on Michelle Fahy’s research, we discovered there’s a weapons component manufacturer near your.
April 15th 2024 #FreePalestine #StopArmingIsrael – Check Instagram @DisruptWars @A15Actions #A15Actions
PUBLIC A15 ACTIONS
Demand Deakin Cut Weapons Ties. #A15 Geelong
MONDAY, APRIL 15TH AT 8:30AM, Deakin Waterfront Campus, Western Beach Rd
PROTEST TO DEMAND DEAKIN CUT WEAPONS TIES. BRING BANNERS!
It has been six months of genocide and enough is enough. We want the slaughter to stop. We want Geelong to step up and take a stand – to say we’ll no longer be complicit in the death of tens of thousands of Palestinians, the forced famine of an entire population or the mass destruction of infrastructure in Gaza.
Shamefully, Deakin University is complicit in the actions of the Israeli military in Gaza. Through its Carbon Nexus facility and central role in the Geelong Advanced Fibre Cluster, Deakin University conducts research and development for weapons manufacturers who are supplying the Israeli military, including BAE Systems and Geelong companies Quickstep, Chemring and Marand Precision Engineering. These companies all make critical components for the lethal F-35 fighter jets that Israel is using to drop bombs on Gaza, including flares, vertical tail components and trailers for mounting engines. In addition, BAE supplies the Israeli military with a wide range of weapons, including components for combat aircraft, munitions, missile launching kits and armored vehicles, being used to commit genocide and war crimes on Palestinians in Gaza.
In addition, Deakin has partnerships with a range of other weapons manufacturers that are profiting from arming the Israeli military, such as Lockheed Martin, Thales and General Dynamics.
Join us to demand that Deakin University cut ties with these Israeli-linked weapons manufacturers and commit to purposeful education and technological development for the benefit of humanity, not for death and destruction.
Bring banners with your message for Deakin.
#a15action #stoparmingisrael #earthcarenotwarfare #ceasefirenow
If you can’t participate send a regular donation or a one off. The money goes to platforms, organisers, and actions.
Ferra Engineering, Boeing & Queensland Government Investments in the Weapons Industry
This brief was compiled by members of the direct action collective Shut Down Ferra. PDF with references can be accessed below.
Follow them on Instagram @ShutDownFerra
Summary
Ferra Engineering is the sole supplier for the AME Weapons Adapters that hold and release
various bombs from Lockheed Martin’s F-35 jet fighters. They make over 100 essential parts for
the F35.
The Israeli Defence Force has confirmed they rely on F 35s armed with 900kg JDAM bombs in
their invasion of Gaza. Every single bomb dropped from an F 35 in Gaza has been done so by
one of Ferra’s weapons adapters – weapons adapters that are manufactured and exported from
right here in Tingalpa, Brisbane.
Component parts potentially for Boeing JDAM Wingkits: Makes your bomb fly further and more accurately to kill more people
The Queensland Government’s funding of weapons manufacturers in recent years means that
Queensland is now a top contributor to the global arms trade and supply of arms to Israel.
The consistent investments Ferra Engineering has received from the Australian and
Queensland Governments over the years are responsible for their contribution to the genocide
of Palestinian people being perpetrated by Israel.
Every product manufactured by Ferra, whether in Australia or overseas, was conceptualised by
the Brisbane based team. Over the last three decades they have refined their business model
and manufacturing processes right here in Brisbane.
Ferra was founded in Brisbane in 1992. Their contributions to global terror can all be traced
back to this small factory, right here in Tingalpa.
Components for Boeing Wing Kits for JDAM bombs on the factory floor at Ferra.
Ferra Engineering
Ferra Engineering specialises in advanced manufacturing for the defence and aerospace
industry and has major contracts with weapons manufacturers including Lockheed Martin,
Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Thales.
Ferra Engineering was established in Brisbane in 1992 and has since expanded internationally
with several locations in the USA and one in India. Ferra was bought by Liberty Hall Capital
(Accurus Group) in 2022, with their head office now located in the UK.
Ferra Engineering manufactures more than 100 parts for Lockheed Martin’s Joint Strike Fighter
Program (F 35 Program). They are the sole source supplier of the Alternate Missions Equipment
(AME) weapons adapters for the global F 35 supply chain. Every F 35 in production and
operation requires weapons adapters manufactured by Ferra Engineering.4 5
The IDF and US officials have confirmed that F 35s are being used against Palestinians in
Gaza.
It is estimated that more than 70% of the products manufactured in Ferra’s Tingalpa factory are
exported.
The AME weapons adapters for the F 35 are exported from Tingalpa to the USA
where they are received by Marvin Engineering and assembled for Lockheed Martin, and then
sent on to Israel.
Spare F 35 parts have also been ordered by Israel from storage in Europe, for which it is
unclear if Australia has contributed.
Ferra relies heavily on local supply chains in its production of F 35 parts and has a close
working relationship with Heat Treatment Australia (HTA) in Coopers Plains.
Ferra has an intimate relationship with Lockheed Martin dating back to 2006. Ferra’s latest
contract with Lockheed Martin for the F 35 Program is valued at $1.1 billion through to 2035.11 12
Ferra’s largest partnerships are with Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and largest manufacturing
platforms the F 35 Joint Strike Fighter Program and the Boeing MQ28A Loyal Wingman (Ghost
Bat).
The Ghost Bat is a weapons capable drone that is intended to support F 35s on long missions.
While initially developed for RAAF, US officials have indicated that from 2023 these drones will
be tested for application within the US Air Force and its allies. In early 2023 the Queensland
Government boasted of its involvement in supporting Ferra to produce these drones on behalf
of Boeing here in Queensland. They have also assisted Ferra to secure export deals in
countries like the UK and India via Trades and Investments Queensland (TIQ).
Following 7th October, Boeing urgently sped the delivery of 1,800 JDAM units to Israel. Boeing
has supplied tens of thousands of these units to Israel in the past decade.
In late October 2023, Ferra Engineering signed a MoU with Boeing to continue production of the
JDAM Extended Range (ER) Wing Kits, for which Ferra is Boeing’s global supplier through to
2028. While first developed for RAAF, the ER Wing Kits are exported internationally and provided to countries allied with the United States. There is no information available to suggest they are currently deployed by Israel, but have been used recently by Ukraine.
Per Boeing, “this project is a great example of Australian industry working with Defence to the great benefit of one of our key allies, the United States.” 16
Queensland Government Initiatives
The Queensland Government has established various initiatives to provide funding and support to local defence and aerospace businesses, including the:
Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning – Aerospace Roadmap and Action Plan 2018-2028 (Miles): QUEENSLAND AEROSPACE 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan (statedevelopment.qld.gov.au)
Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning – Queensland Defence Industries 10-year Roadmap and Action Plan 2018-2028 (Miles): defence industry-roadmap-october-22.pdf (statedevelopment.qld.gov.au)
Defence and Aerospace Industry Development (DAID) Fund. Steven Miles re the DAID Fund, 25 May 2023: “it is a priority of this Government to assist many of our smaller businesses to develop and promote their defence, aerospace and space capabilities here and overseas.” Defence and Aerospace Industry Development Funding for Qld businesses – Ministerial Media Statements
Queensland is home to Boeing’s largest workforce in the world outside of the United States thanks to Queensland Government deals with Boeing to bring defence manufacturing onshore. In 2018, the Government provided $18 million towards a deal with Boeing, of which $9 million was allocated to Queensland businesses to boost their weapons manufacturing capabilities in order to supply Boeing with weapons parts.
Ferra Engineering is a member of the Queensland Reference Group (QRG) for Manufacturing and Engineering and is the sole representative of the aerospace industry within this group. The QRG falls under the scope of the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water.20 21
The Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, per Minister Glenn Butcher, recently awarded a grant (unknown quantity) to Ferra Engineering to increase domestic manufacturing capabilities to supply Boeing’s Ghost Bat Program.
Per Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick, “Ferra Engineering, from Tingalpa, [is] a company that our government has assisted with a manufacturing grant which Ferra will use to invest in new technology as it works on helping to build Boeing’s new Ghost Bat aircraft right here in Queensland.” 30 March 2023.
Ferra Engineering also has a longstanding relationship with Trades and Investments Queensland (TIQ) dating back to 2010. In 2023 Cameron Dick via TIQ assisted Ferra in expanding exportation to India and reported achieving a $700,000 outcome between parties. TIQ has also assisted Ferra to achieve export outcomes in the UK. The nature of assistance provided is unpublished.23 24 25
Ministerial Statements
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water Glenn Butcher, 28 February 2023:
Tingalpa’s Ferra puts Queensland defence on world stage – Ministerial Media Statements
“The Palaszczuk Government recognised the potential at Ferra some time ago, which is why we’ve done everything we can to help them fly into this next development.
The Department of Regional Development and Manufacturing provided the Ferra team a grant to ensure their manufacturing was brought onshore to Queensland.
Twenty good, new jobs are expected to be created in the next five years and the flow-on benefits of that are invaluable.”
Quotes attributable to the Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, 28 February 2023:
Tingalpa’s Ferra puts Queensland defence on world stage – Ministerial Media Statements
“You’d be hard-pressed to find a better example of our Government’s commitment to defence industry jobs than Ferra.
“We’re supporting Boeing to assemble the Ghost Bat in Queensland.
We’ve supported Ferra to install technology that allows them to build larger components for military aircraft systems.
Queensland and India partner for future space and defence technologies – Ministerial Media Statements
And we’re supporting them to export their products to countries like India through Trade and Investment Queensland.
We want to keep strengthening Queensland’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, because that will further diversify our economy and build on our existing skills base.
Our Government’s support for the local production of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat will help deliver around 300 construction jobs and at least 70 high-skilled jobs once operational, bringing with it supply chain opportunities for local businesses.
Ferra’s export customers include Boeing, Dynamatic Technologies, Godrej Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, the Airbus Group, GE Aviation, Thales and Lockheed Martin.”
Commenting on the partnership [between Ferra Engineering and Dynamatic Technologies (India)] Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said (21 March 2023):
Queensland and India partner for future space and defence technologies – Ministerial Media Statements
“I commend Ferra for securing partnerships with prestigious customers in India like Dynamatic Technologies.
“Partnerships with global defence giants like Boeing and Dynamatic Technologies strengthen Queensland’s advanced manufacturing capabilities.
“Supporting companies like Ferra further diversifies Queensland’s economy and builds on our existing skills base.”
Harms Dealers: Thales in partnership with Israel Aerospace and Elbit.
Pro-Palestine protesters say Thales has no social licence
Stephen W Enciso Garramilla/Darwin December 17, 2023 Published by Green Left Weekly (Original Article Here) About the wonderful Darwin Crew
A delegation of peace builders who wanted to question Thales on its links to Israel’s genocide in Palestine was denied entry to the weapons manufacturer’s office on December 15.
Thales has a relationship with Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Elbit, the Israeli defence electronics company.
Weapons company Thales under fire for human rights violations in West Papua
The Thales-IAI partnership has produced the Sea Serpent, a surface-to-surface guided missile with a kill range of 200 kilometres. The Thales-Elbit partnership involves a subsidiary company UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS), which makes killer drones.
Last year Israel was ranked 10th largest global exporter of weapons. Its technologies are often promoted as being successfully “combat-tested”. For instance, Elbit’s drones have been used for surveillance and attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
As the Palestinian death toll exceeded 18,000, Australia voted to support a United Nations ceasefire motion, after stalling for 67 days.
Israel is continuing its indiscriminate air strikes against Palestinians, with United States support.
Achieving a lasting peace will require a break in the military-industrial complex. This year Labor agreed to 52 defence export permits to Israel, while 322 such permits have been approved over the last 6 years.
Palestinian human rights groups have launched proceedings in the Federal Court to expose all arms exports to Israel since October 7.
Justin Tutty from Top End Peace Alliance said that for weapons companies “the humanitarian crisis [in Gaza] is just a business opportunity”. They are expecting to make big profits.
The delegation reminded Thales that it has no social licence to operate.
Peace builders have previously tried to speak to Thales over its sale of Bushmaster vehicles to the Indonesian Special Forces for its repression of West Papuans.
“War crimes start in the corporate boardrooms of Thales and other harms dealers,” human rights advocate Billee McGinley said. “We show up to expose the true nature of their business and to make clear we do not accept them.”
Thales staff blockaded the door with a Christmas tree and refused to talk to the delegation or receive a letter.
The letter called on Thales to immediately release a public statement “confirming any weapons or military equipment used in Gaza”, and to “urgently recall any weapons or military equipment that are being used for war crimes in Gaza”. It also demanded Thales end its “insidious relationship with the Israeli weapons industry” and “retool or move out of Darwin”.
Tutty said the US military build-up is bringing more international weapons companies to the Northern Territory — including Raytheon, Northrup Gruman, Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
“These companies are coming to feed on the error our government is making in buying into America’s plans for a war with China,” Tutty said.
The delegation left disappointed, only to find 7 police cars and approximately 15 officers waiting for them in the car park.