Australian public servants urge government to halt military exports to Israel

Amid Israel’s massacring of Palestinians in Rafah, over 300 public servants from across Australia's federal and state agencies have signed an open letter demanding that the federal government immediately cease all military exports to Israel. The letter highlights concerns about violations of international humanitarian law and Australia's complicity in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, The Guardian reported.

The signatories, primarily employed in various government departments, have expressed deep concern over Australia's alleged involvement in the conflict through arms exports. This move follows a warning from United Nations experts in February, cautioning that the transport of weapons or ammunition to Israel, particularly those used in Gaza, is likely to breach international humanitarian law.

The Australian government's stance has been one of denial regarding these claims. In February, Defence Minister Richard Marles stated unequivocally that "no exports of weapons from Australia to Israel" have occurred for many years. Similarly, Foreign Minister Penny Wong assured in November that Australia has not supplied weapons to Israel since the onset of the current Hamas-Israeli conflict.

Despite these assurances, the letter signed by the public servants makes four specific demands: an immediate halt to all military parts and weapons supplies to Israel, cessation of reconnaissance support from the Pine Gap facility, cancellation of all contracts and cooperation with Israeli weapons suppliers, and full disclosure of information related to military export licenses granted to Australian companies supplying arms to Israel.

The letter references reports indicating that civil servants in the UK have similarly expressed concerns about being "complicit in war crimes in Gaza." Additionally, it cites a November report revealing that Australian arms and ammunition exports to Israel totalled $13 million over the past five years. In February 2024 alone, data from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade showed that Australia exported over $1.5 million in arms and ammunition to Israel.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy countered these figures, asserting that Australia is not exporting military weapons such as bombs to Israel. However, the disparity between official statements and reported figures has fuelled further calls for transparency and accountability, The Guardian report said.

The letter is endorsed by several organizations, including the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, Unionists for Palestine, and the Palestine Justice Movement Sydney.

The Australian Public Service Act mandates that employees uphold the APS values, which include providing apolitical and evidence-based advice to the government. The social media guidelines further stress the need for public servants to balance their public statements with their professional obligations to maintain trust and impartiality.

The High Court's 2019 decision to uphold the dismissal of a public servant for anonymously criticizing the government's immigration policy on social media underscores the potential risks for those taking a public stand. Despite this, the signatories believe their actions are justified by the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for Australia to reassess its role in the conflict.