Victoria criticised by human rights organisation over partnership with Israeli defence ministry
www.abc.net.au
Victoria quietly signed an agreement with Israel's defence ministry a year ago, deepening the state's ties with an increasingly controversial partner.

Victoria quietly signed an agreement with Israel’s defence ministry a year ago, deepening the state’s ties with an increasingly controversial partner.

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    5 months ago

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    Victoria quietly signed an agreement with Israel’s Ministry of Defence (IMOD) a year ago to collaborate on projects and foster trade relations, deepening the state’s ties with an increasingly controversial partner.

    The state government says the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) — a non-binding document signalling the intentions of both parties — aims to identify projects that can deliver advanced manufacturing capabilities and highly skilled jobs for Victoria.

    On a trip to Israel last week, Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated Australia’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza, saying people were facing a “dark humanitarian crisis” and civilians should be protected.

    In 2021, the Victorian government invested an undisclosed amount in the Australian arm of Elbit Systems, helping to establish the Centre of Excellence for Human-Machine Teaming and Artificial Intelligence in Port Melbourne.

    It prompted the Commonwealth to pass new laws in 2020 giving it powers to review and cancel agreements Australian bodies have with foreign entities if they were not in the national interest, and to list them on a public register.

    John Fitzgerald, an emeritus professor at Swinburne University who published a book on state and territory relationships with China after the BRI scandal, said the register had served its purpose in this case.

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