Labor Premier Chris Minns has come under fire for saying he is "proud" and "delighted" to welcome weapons manufacturers, who are implicated in Israel's genocide in Gaza, to the City of Sydney as part of the Indo-Pacific Weapons Exposition.
MPs from Minns' own Labor Government, Member of the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory Chris Sidoti, and the Greens have all raised significant concern.
They are joined by hundreds of protesters who gathered peacefully in Tumbalong Park today to express their outrage at the Premier's endorsement of the weapons manufacturers and his choice to have the NSW Government act as the principal sponsor of the event.
Greens MP and spokesperson for Justice Sue Higginson said:
"Australia has clear obligations under international law, and I'm seriously concerned that the State of NSW is in breach of Australia's obligations to prevent genocide by endorsing and showcasing weapons corporations who are directly linked to Israel's genocide in Gaza in the heart of Sydney,"
"UN experts have also expressed that the NSW Government's endorsement of this event is of grave concern."
"Let's be clear that the weapons manufacturers that Labor Premier Chris Minns has welcomed into Darling Harbour produce bombs, fighter jets, tanks, and chemical munitions used to massacre and mutilate tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian babies, women and men."
"Labor Premier Chris Minns has said he doesn't control who is invited to this weapons expo, but he does control his own decisions to offer a personal endorsement of the event, to say he is 'proud' and 'delighted' to welcome into NSW corporations who massacre babies, and to use taxpayer funds to sponsor the event."
"I can't imagine how the Palestinian and Lebanese communities across Sydney and NSW are feeling right now. These communities have to watch the Premier of their State saying he is delighted to welcome to their city the very weapons corporations responsible for the massacre of their families and communities."
"The Premier's actions and rhetoric are damaging to the social cohesion of our State, and they display a concerning lack of humanity and leadership."
"I am horrified that the Premier is now openly spruiking that the future of our economy relies on manufacturing weapons used to massacre Palestinian people - this is not leadership, it is frightening immorality on full display. Yes of course we want manufacturing here in NSW but we do not want to manufacture weapons of death, destruction, war and genocide. We will not stand for this." Ms Higginson said.
