CONCERNED about Australians’ meek response to the war in Iran, a newly formed coalition of community groups is planning a protest in Fremantle next week.
Anti War Collective representative Daniel A Elias said the group emerged from a community meeting held this week and came with a warning the escalating war is going to hit local households through rising fuel and grocery prices unless people stand up to oppose it.
Petrol prices had already jumped across the city midweek and on Thursday were hovering around the $2.20 per litre mark.
“We have got planned a snap action, but the name that we wanted to give it is a ‘Speak Out’, where we have several speakers from the community groups introduce our objectives, give context to why we are having a snap action, and put forward the facts of how this war is going to impact the south metro, Fremantle and surrounds,” he said.
The event is proposed for 5pm on Tuesday March 17 in Walyalup Koort.
• Anti War Collective’s Daniel A Elias said he was surprised by most Australians’ placid response to being dragged into another conflict in the Middle East. Photo by Steve
Grant
Mr Elias said one of the major concerns raised at the meeting was the economic impact of the conflict.
“Obviously, cost of living. Fuel prices have already jumped, and that’s going to trickle on to cost of groceries,” he said.
Economists say the conflict may have significant economic consequences for Australian households, particularly if global oil prices jump back past $100 a barrel, which will push up freight costs and ultimately the price of good on supermarket shelves.
Mr Elias said the Albanese government’s support of the US and Israeli-led hostilities was “particularly poor” and came at the expense of the people they were supposed to represent.
“How can the party of working people say they represent them if they are pursuing a foreign policy that only is increasing tensions in the Middle East?” he said.
“As a unionist, I see through this; that the cost of living is pinching people, and this is going to only hurt more and do more damage than good for everyday working people.”
He said the meeting also discussed the region’s proximity to military facilities along Western Australia’s coast.
“We’re on the Indian Ocean, and there are a slew of military bases — on the West Coast, near Fremantle – which means if there is a further escalation of tensions, it’s just going to be in our backyard,” he said.
Participants at the meeting were also concerned Australia could be drawn into a prolonged conflict.
“One certain statement that came from that meeting was no more ‘forever wars’,” Mr Elias said.
“We don’t want to be dragged into a conflict that resembles what unfolded in Iraq.”
“Many of the people in that group either came of age or grew up during that period, so we are all very well aware of how the USA can really just trigger a war that will last.”
Mr Elias said the group believed Australia should instead use its diplomatic channels as a middle power to leverage Iran’s regime in an attempt to bring change.
by STEVE GRANT