Thursday, 29 August 2024

Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition

Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:09): (648) My question is for the Leader of the Government representing the Premier. In two weeks the world’s largest weapons manufacturers will gather in Melbourne for the Land Forces expo, an arms fair featuring weapons that are being used in violent oppression around the world, including the genocide occurring in Palestine. Protests by those who support peace and disarmament are expected. The government has already committed to mobilising 1800 additional police officers, including the riot squad and mounted police, to police the protesters. Given the costs and risks of this event, let alone the moral and ethical imperatives, it begs the question: why is the government sponsoring it? Attorney, given the concerns your government clearly has, will you cancel the Land Forces expo?

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:10): I thank Dr Mansfield for her question. As people have interjected, for those who tuned in to the Assembly question time yesterday, a very similar question was put directly to the Premier. Given that your question today is for the Premier, I am more than happy to refer that to her, but you might want to review the footage from yesterday because it indeed answers comprehensively the question that you have asked. I can provide a link to that if you would like to view it.

Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:11): I thank the Attorney, although the question was not actually responded to particularly well. There was not a direct answer to that question yesterday, which is why we are asking it again. It is somewhat ironic that those who are protesting in the name of peace against the manufacturers of weapons used to destroy people’s bodies are being recast as the violent ones. There has been escalating rhetoric by the police and ministers about the force that police will use to control protesters. Under the Victorian human rights charter, police are obliged to respect and protect the right to protest and must not use force or other measures to limit or disperse peaceful protesters. Attorney, how does your government’s response to the planned protests accord with the obligation to protect and respect the right to protest?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:12): Just to confirm again that Dr Mansfield’s question was directed to the Premier and not to me in my capacity as Attorney-General, and again it is similar if not the same question that was put directly to the Premier in the Assembly. So given that this is a repeat of a question that was put to the Premier, I am sure it will be easy for her to furnish the answer. I would only conclude with some comments in relation to the question posed. Everyone in this chamber, I think, is respectful of peaceful protest, and we urge anybody that is engaging in protest activity to keep that at the forefront of their minds when organising such things.