Independent and Peaceful Australia Network
To establish peace as a key public health and policy issue in Australia, guiding policy development for local, national, and international harmony. Whilst a peace initiative can coexist with defence initiatives, without peace, addressing issues such as climate change, migration, inequality, or hunger becomes much harder, if not impossible.
‘Make Peace a Priority’ Campaign Proposal
IPAN has initiated the ‘Make Peace a Priority’ campaign
Our Campaign Vision:
To elevate peace as a national priority so that it informs policy development in Australia, to achieve peace domestically and internationally.
Rationale for Campaign:
- Peace is essential if we are going to meet the future challenges that Australia faces within our country and region.
- The campaign proposal is to provide focus and additional support for Australia’s contribution to international agencies working towards peace and social justice.
- Along with our diverse population, we have the opportunity to promote harmony at the domestic level and model ways to strengthen global systems for peace and the pursuit of international harmony.
- Working for systemic change in our society is essential to achieving and maintaining long term peace.
- This initiative will complement all existing campaigns working for peace.
- This campaign vision is long-term – but we must start now.
Campaign Aims
- This campaign seeks to influence the political environment in Australia so that peace becomes a priority focus and a lens which informs policy decisions.
- This campaign aims to create a unifying vision which reflects the wishes of the Australian people for peaceful coexistence.
Full details of the Make Peace a Priority campaign
NT must resist war preparation by US – rather than giving green light for leaking US Fuel Tanks – Media Release 12 March 2025
IPAN Patrons: Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe AO & Kellie Tranter Lawyer & Human Rights Activist
- US-based company Crowley should face penalty (not special treatment) for breach of NT Building Act
- Risks for Territory residents and environment from project with gas leak exposed
- US aircraft fuel tanks are positioned in the top end for US Air Force preparedness for war
- Crowley was the manager of the US tanker carrying jet fuel in accident in the North Sea two days ago
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) is dismayed by the announcement from the NT Chief Minister Lia Finnochiaro that no penalties will be handed to US-based company Crowley, after a leak revealed they had built a bulk fuel storage facility on Darwin Harbour without first securing a building permit.
‘Such behaviour should be subject to the same penalties that would apply to any other business in breach of the NT Northern Territory Building Act 1993’, stated Mr Justin Tutty, spokesperson for IPAN.
‘Why should a project built to support US military activities in the Asia-Pacific get special treatment when it has breached NT law?’, asked Mr Tutty.
‘The Chief Minister’s justification for not enforcing any penalty because of the Australia-US alliance and the need to protect this relationship, actually prioritises the needs of the US above those of NT residents’, stated Mr Tutty.
This situation raises alarm bells about what else the NT Government will do to pander to the desires of the US as it seeks to further build up its war preparations and enmesh the AUKUS arrangements in Australia.
‘Territory residents need to be fully aware that the fuel tanks are positioned in the Top End for US Air Force preparedness for war – which exposes the NT and its residents to risk in the event of a US war breaking out.’
‘Residents also need to be aware of the Force Posture Agreement[i] between the US and Australia, which underpins and provides the US contractor authority to construct the fuel storage facility for the US military to use in launching and supporting war from Australian territory.’, said Mr Tutty.
‘Additionally, the decision to not penalise Crowley should raise concerns for Territorians regarding whether the current Government will govern with transparency and accountability’, said Mr Tutty.
‘Leaders in Australia must stand up to the United States and demand compliance with Australian laws’ and ‘we call on the NT and Australian Governments to halt and reduce the militarisation of the NT’, Mr Tutty.
‘IPAN is also alarmed about ‘water intrusion’ in the fuel tanks’ leak detection system. Given the tanks are designed to hold 300 million litres of military-grade jet fuel, there are huge risks for Territory residents and the environment from this project’, said Mr Tutty.
‘And only two days ago, Crowley was the manager of the US Tanker carrying jet fuel in the accident with a Portuguese Container Ship in the North Sea highlighting a concerning track record for Crowley’, said Mr Tutty.
This accident must raise alarm bells for the NT Government who must prioritise the needs of residents over appeasing the US’, concluded Mr Tutty.
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For Media Interviews: Justin Tutty 0424 028 741;
IPAN Media Liaison: Jonathan Pilbrow, 0403 611 815
Bio: Justin Tutty is a Darwin-based anti-nuclear activist and founding member of IPAN
[i] The Force Posture Agreement for example, allows the US to station troops in Darwin, store supplies in Australia, and use Australian ports and airfields; and also includes activities like collaborative airbase operations, combat support, and logistics
Editor’s Note: the fuel tanks have also been built on reclaimed mangrove land with acid sulphate soil as well as being in a Primary Surge Zone making them a far greater hazard when a major cyclone hits.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and respect their continuing culture. We acknowledge their country was violently seized 230 years ago, and affirm that genuine independence of Australia cannot be achieved without a just and sovereign Treaty with the indigenous people of this land.