A motion supporting the AUKUS pact between Australia, Britain and the United States was rejected by Queensland Labor delegates at its conference in Mackay over June 3-4.
The Guardian and Labor Against War (LAW) reported that 229 delegates voted against an Australian Workers Union-aligned motion to congratulate the federal government on the AUKUS agreement.
“Conference congratulates Albanese Govt investing in the AUKUS agreement. An agreement that will create jobs for the country, establish and retain a new industry being nuclear science and secure our nation in the future” was supported by just 140 delegates.
LAW reported that Queensland Labor president John Battams, Queensland MPs Ali King and Jonty Bush and former federal Bowman candidate Donisha Duff voted against the motion. Left faction powerbroker and United Workers Union Garry Bullock abstained, as did Labor Secretary Kate Flanders.
Electrical Trades Union (ETU) delegates successfully moved an additional motion calling for a ban on nuclear-powered submarines entering Queensland waters.
Annette Brownlie, President of the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN), told Green Left: “IPAN congratulates the ETU Queensland/NT for maintaining its historic work to keep Queensland nuclear free”.
LAW welcomed the conference decision, tweeting “the fight is just starting to turn this terrible policy around”.
This is the latest indication that there is significant opposition to the militaristic AUKUS pact within Labor’s ranks.
Since former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating made a blistering attack on the AUKUS submarine deal at the National Press Club last November, opposition to AUKUS inside Labor has grown.
LAW spoke out at a May 24 protest in Gadi/Sydney and announced its formation at the South Coast Labour Council’s May Day in Port Kembla, where unions and community groups made a point of rejecting a submarine base.
Anti-AUKUS campaign groups are also organising public actions to educate and involve more of the public, such as the May 27 protest in Walyalup/Fremantle.
The Australian Anti-AUKUS Coalition (AAAC) has just announced a protest against AUKUS will be organised outside Labor’s national conference in Meanjin/Brisbane on August 18.
“This is military madness and many unions and others in the labour movement, including former Labor Prime Minister, Paul Keating, have criticised the deal,” AAAC said.
“This is money that could be spent on housing, health, aged care, education, renewable energy, increasing the Jobseeker allowance and more. It also risks provoking an arms race, or even war with China, which will come at the cost to workers everywhere.”