Thousands of protesters are expected in Perth on Tuesday for a peaceful demonstration outside Land Forces 2026, despite violent clashes at the previous defence exhibition in Melbourne.
Sam Wainwright, a spokesman for the WA Anti-War Collective, said the group did not expect a repeat of the disorder that surrounded Land Forces 2024.
“We’ve made it clear our protest will be entirely peaceful,” he told AAP. “I don’t believe there’ll be any violent protest of any sort.”
The three-day exhibition, which runs until Thursday, is Australia’s largest land defence industry event. It is expected to attract thousands of delegates from Australia and overseas, including senior government and military officials.
Weapons and other military equipment will be displayed as Australia continues to strengthen its defences amid growing economic and military competition in the Indo-Pacific region. The event is not open to the public.
At Land Forces 2024, protesters and police clashed in Melbourne, with dozens arrested and 27 officers injured.
It was alleged that some protesters threw rocks, other projectiles, eggs, horse manure and liquid irritants at police and conference attendees. Wheelie bins were set alight, while food-grade acid and glass bottles were allegedly thrown at police barricades.
Police powers strengthened for Land Forces 2026 protest
Western Australian police have been given additional powers during the conference, including the ability to search bags and vehicles and establish checkpoints, cordons and roadblocks.
Officers can also seize items considered prohibited and deemed to pose a safety risk.
Mr Wainwright said the planned protest would oppose the Government’s ambition to make Australia a major weapons manufacturing country, an objective he said had been pursued by both Labor and Liberal governments for more than a decade.
“We completely disagree, and we don’t think the industry should have social licence in the form that it does through Land Forces,” he said.
The demonstration is expected to focus on Australian weapons manufacturers exporting arms overseas. Mr Wainwright claimed some exports went to countries accused of breaching international and humanitarian law.
He said the United Arab Emirates was the biggest destination for Australian arms exports in the Middle East and described it as a key participant in Sudan’s civil war, which he said had killed as many as 400,000 civilians.
He also criticised Australia’s military relationship with Israel, saying it conflicted with the country’s obligation to do everything possible to prevent genocide.
