Tuesday, 10 September 2024

Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition

Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:12): (654) My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Police. This week arms manufacturers will legally be able to display and promote their weapons at the Land Forces expo. This is because your government has suspended parts of the Control of Weapons Act in order to permit this promotion of usually prohibited weapons. Minister, which weapons will be authorised for this period? For example, are weapons currently prohibited under international treaties permitted, such as cluster bombs, chemical weapons or landmines?

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:13): I thank Mr Puglielli for his question. I will make sure that question is forwarded on to the Minister for Police in the other place and you get a response in line with the standing orders.

Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:13): At the same time, the Labor government is using the same act to increase police powers at the Land Forces expo site to shut down peaceful protests against these arms manufacturers, who profit from war and from conflict. Minister, what are you doing to ensure that peaceful protests against these arms manufacturers at the Land Forces expo can take place without police overreach?

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:14): I thank Mr Puglielli for his supplementary question. I am sure the Minister for Police is just as interested in supporting peaceful protests as everyone else in this chamber would be, as long as they are peaceful. But I will make sure that he gets that question and responds in a written way in due course.