IPAN: Labor is risking war with China and has abandoned aspirations for independent foreign policy

IPAN Public Meeting Friday 4 October, 6 pm, Perth Library, with speaker Dr Carmen Lawrence, "Sleepwalking into War ? Breaking the US stranglehold on Australia: Peace or War? Also Senator Fatima Payman, Dr Carmen Lawrence, Professor Lisa Natividad and Senator Jordon Steele-John; Wakeley Award Winning Journalist Sophie McNeill will be the MC.  There will also be a press conference.
 

IPAN stands for the Independent Peaceful Australia Network.  Dr Carmen Lawrence will be one of the key speakers at the upcoming national conference of the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) on Friday night at a public meeting, where AUKUS and its implications will be front and centre in conversations.
 

"A dramatic shift in Australia’s defence and foreign policy - AUKUS - was engineered without Australians’ knowledge or consent” stated Dr Carmen Lawrence, former WA Premier and former Federal MP.
 
“AUKUS ties Australia more firmly than ever to U.S war fighting posture; we are signing up to the U.S. project aimed at “containing” China and risking engagement in a war over Taiwan”, stated Dr Lawrence.
 
“Why has Labor abandoned its long-held opposition to nuclear power as well as its previous aspirations for a more independent foreign policy?” asked Dr Lawrence.
 

Dr Lawrence will be speaking on AUKUS at the Perth City Library on Friday 4 October, at 6pm, which is the opening function of IPAN’s national conference on the weekend of 5 and 6 October at the UC Conference Centre, Level 1, 97 William St, Perth (Boorloo). All are welcome to attend this public meeting.
Dr Lawrence will also speak at a Press Conference in Perth, Friday 4 Oct, 10.30 am, Venue TBC.
 
Public Meeting Friday 4 October, 6 pm at the Perth Library with Senator Fatima Payman, Dr Carmen Lawrence, Professor Lisa Natividad and Senator Jordon Steele-John; Wakeley Award Winning Journalist Sophie McNeill will be the MC.
 
Press Conference Friday 4 October, 10.30 am will take place with Dr Carmen Lawrence, Senator Fatima Payman, Professor Lisa Natividad and Senator Jordon Steele-John. Venue to be notified.

For more information or to register for the Public Meeting and Conference: ipan-conference-2024
 
Media Interviews: Dr Carmen Lawrence (08) 9335 3290 or 0407 377 582
Media Liaison: Jonathan Pilbrow 0403 611 815
 
Bio: Dr Carmen Lawrence: After training as a research psychologist at the University of Western Australia and lecturing in a number of Australian universities, Dr Lawrence entered politics in 1986, serving at both State and Federal levels for 21 years. She was at various times W.A Minister for Education and Aboriginal affairs and was the first woman Premier and Treasurer of a State government.  She shifted to Federal politics in 1994 when she was elected as the Member for Fremantle and was appointed Minister for Health and Human Services and Minister assisting the Prime Minister on the Status of Women.  She has held various portfolios in Opposition, including Indigenous Affairs, Environment, Industry and Innovation and was elected national President of the Labor Party in 2004. She retired from politics in 2007. She is now Senior Honorary Research Fellow
and Professor Emerita in the School of Psychological Science at the University of Western Australia.

Further details on Conference
 “Sleepwalking into War?”

• Opposing AUKUS, nuclear submarines and nuclear waste
• Campaigning for a just, peaceful and sustainable world

 
Topics to be covered include:

• AUKUS – Alternative uses of $368 billion, dangers of nuclear waste, and implications for Australian Policy
• Lessons from Gaza
• Developing regional peace initiatives in the Asia Pacific
• Impacts of war on the environment and indigenous rights
• Countering threats of nuclear war
• Campaigning for a more independent and genuine defence policy for Australia

Australian and International speakers at the Friday Public Meeting and weekend Conference include:

• Dr Carmen Lawrence
• Senator Fatima Payman
• Senator Jordan Steele-John
• Professor Lisa Natividad, Guam
• Senator Dorina Cox, First Nations Greens Senator for WA
• Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe, AO
• John Lander, former Ambassador
• Anu Chenoy, International Peace Bureau Councillor

For more information or to register for the Public Meeting and Conference: ipan-conference-2024