In 2015, Australia was known as the sixth-largest arms importer globally. According to The Guardian, spending on military equipment has surged “in line with ambitious targets to update the armed forces’ fleet of fighter jets, submarines, frigates and armoured vehicles.”

Australia’s arms exports are growing, too -- and research shows that if they want to compete with the global arms-exporting countries, they’ll have to increase exports fifteen-fold. That’s a drastic increase in an economy that undermines peace, exacerbates conflicts and facilitates human rights abuses.

Tell Minister Christopher Pyne to stop Australian involvement in the arms trade.

Since the Australian arms industry was privatised in the 1980s, the government’s involvement in arms exports has grown. It’s not okay.

Last year, the Turnbull government announced an 80% rise in Australia’s military spending over ten years, in addition to a new $230 million “Centre for Defence Industry Capability”.

But the Campaign Against Arms Trade said it best -- the benefit will go to international companies while the costs are on the citizens and taxpayers of the countries involved in arms trade.

Australia’s better than that. Tell Minister Christopher Pyne that Australia’s arms imports and exports need to stop.