ACT Labor and the Canberra Liberals have voted together to affirm their support for the defence industry companies based in the capital, splitting with the Greens on the issue in a spirited debate.
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Deputy Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson on Wednesday moved a motion in the Legislative Assembly that condemned the ACT Greens for their "recent attack on the defence industry" and their "attack on the defence supplier that is providing vital support to Ukraine".
The motion was prompted by an adjournment speech the Greens member for Ginninderra, Jo Clay, gave in April, which criticised the Australian War Memorial for accepting sponsorship from Lockheed Martin.
"We do not yet know when or if this contract will be renewed, but it is my hope that it will not be. It is inappropriate that the profiteers of war fund a national institution which is there to commemorate and acknowledge the toll of war, but not to glorify it. It is particularly egregious in this case because it is Lockheed," Ms Clay said on April 7.
Mr Hanson on Wednesday said Russia would never have invaded Ukraine if it was armed with western technology and called on the ACT government to back the local defence industry.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr moved an amendment to the motion, which he said sought to reach a compromise position that would receive the support of the majority of Assembly members.
"I think it would be, in this current climate, impossible to find a form of words that everyone would be 100 per cent happy with. What I'm endeavouring to do is to take some of the political heat out of this matter and find a way forward," Mr Barr said.
"I stand by the ACT government's stated policy in relation to the defence industry and it is clearly part of our economy and will continue to be so into the future."
The Canberra Times understands the Greens collaborated closely on the motion moved by Mr Barr but ACT Labor insisted on adding two additional points - affirming the support for Canberra's defence industry sector and support of the Australian federal government and other countries in providing equipment to Ukraine to aid its defence - which meant the Greens refused to support it.
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Labor and the Canberra Liberals voted together to pass the motion, before the Greens' Andrew Braddock moved a separate amendment which did not offer support to the defence industry.
The Greens' amendment called on the Assembly to "condemn all military aggression in the strongest possible way" and "recognise the suffering of ordinary people bearing the costs of war".
Mr Braddock said it was a mistake to equate increased military spending with improved national security and it was a mistake to give taxpayer handouts to weapons manufacturers.
"Just imagine for a moment what we could do for Australians with that money when we're talking about jobs for people in Canberra," Mr Braddock said.
Mr Hanson said Mr Braddock's speech would only give comfort to the "crazy, crazy left of the Greens and the Russian embassy".
Mr Barr said there were elements of Mr Braddock's speech with which he could not agree.
The Greens' motion was voted down by Labor and the Liberals.
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Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
