Dear Harlene,
I am writing to express my deep concern for Curtin University's current affiliations and partnerships with Lockheed Martin, Babcock Australasia, BAE Systems, Huntington Ingalls Industries, and other organisations implicated in human rights violations in Palestine.
There is a genocide happening in Gaza. Civilians, children, journalists, academics and students are being killed by the research and weapons these companies produce. The United Nations humanitarian aid agency says that more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's war on Palestine.
I would like the University Council to know I wholly support the current Curtin Solidarity Encampment as part of a global movement calling institutions to cease normalisation with the Israeli apartheid state.
As such, I support the demand for Curtin University to:
- Divest from all weapons companies (Namely, Curtin’s partnerships with Lockheed Martin, Babcock Australasia, and Huntington Ingalls Industries).
- Disclose - Transparency of all university investments and research connections to companies that support or have ties to Israel, the Australian Defence Force and weapons manufacturing.
- Divest from all Israeli companies, and adhere to Boycott Divest Sanction standards, including divesting away from HP tech.
- Cut ties to Israeli universities.
- Publicly denounce the ongoing genocide in Gaza – including the destruction of every university in Gaza and the horrific killing of Palestinian students, academics, and staff.
It is imperative that governments and institutions regularly review their partnerships to ensure such partnerships do not contravene human rights and international law. A failure to divest now tarnishes the university’s international reputation and hampers its overall ability to function as Israel continues to defy the International Court of Justice rulings. Given the destruction of every university in Gaza, it is time to take concrete action and ensure that Curtin University is not contributing to these crimes against humanity.
Curtin’s strategic plan is about making a difference through partnerships for people and our planet. Doing research for weapons manufacturers and working with the Australian Defence Force is not making a positive difference. It makes Curtin complicit in some of the worst crimes and corruption we are seeing globally. If Curtin truly believes in making a positive difference for people and the planet, we ask that you critically and seriously reflect on the legacy this university is creating, what research it conducts, and where it gets its money from. Students do not want their fees going towards war, militarisation and genocide; what about you?
We as students, staff and community, want to work with Curtin University to make tomorrow better.