AWPR Media Statement
The Australian government must refuse to have any involvement in the escalating Iran war and ensure that US bases in Australia do not contribute to the illegal military attacks now underway.
“The US airstrikes against Iran are clearly blatant breaches of international law and should be condemned”, said former diplomat and spokesperson for Australians for War Powers Reform, Dr Alison Broinowski AM.
“Pre-emptive strikes against sovereign nations are prohibited under international law so the Albanese government should avoid providing any support for this war. That includes ensuring that the Trump administration cannot use bases in Australia to assist in continued military action”
Two leading Australian experts have backed the view that the attacks on Iran breach international rules. Ben Saul, the Challis chair of international law at the University of Sydney, says the US strikes are an “international crime of aggression”
The international law expert Professor Donald Rothwell said it was “virtually impossible” to mount a case that the US strikes were legal under international law.
“We call on the Australian Government to rule out any support for the military action against Iran. The government should deny permission for B-2 stealth or B-52 bombers to transit or refuel in Australia, which has occurred previously” Dr Broinowski said.
“Simply calling for de-escalation in this conflict is not good enough. The government must stand up for international law and call out this serious and obvious breach”
“If the Albanese government is considering any move toward helping the US or Israel in this war, the issue should immediately be referred to parliament for a full debate and vote”.
“The disastrous Iraq war showed us just how much damage can be done by undertaking military adventurism outside the agreed UN rules. We must not repeat the same horrendous mistakes again”
