Campaigns
The Australian War Memorial accepts sponsorship from the world's largest weapons makers.
Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Thales are amongst the largest multinational weapons companies on earth.
They provide cash and in-kind sponsorship of the Australian War Memorial.
Until March 2021, the AWM also accepted sponsorship from BAE Systems.
These companies reap enormous profits from war. For them, ongoing warfare leads to greater business success.
They have no place in a memorial to our war dead.
Join our campaign to get vested interests out of our War Memorial.
MARCH 2022
Australian War Memorial urged to stop accepting money from Lockheed Martin
Veterans, historians and experts say companies that profit from conflict have no place in a solemn memorial to those killed in war. Read more in The Guardian.
AUGUST 2021
A LITANY OF FAILURES
MAPW and partners have compiled documentation of the flawed process underpinning the AWM redevelopment.
These documents represent input from a number of people who have been closely involved with the AWM over decades, including former staff members. Particular thanks to David Stephens, convenor of Heritage Guardians, who campaigned against the AWM redevelopment.
AWM Redevelopment - A Litany of Failures: download
JUNE 2021
"A SAD DAY"- NATIONAL CAPITAL AUTHORITY DEFIES COMMUNITY WISHES
Despite overwhelming community rejection, the National Capital Authority has approved the War Memorial's early works application.
Our President, Dr Sue Wareham, has responded: “How can we be proud of a national capital where decisions are made by powerful people behind closed doors, and public opinion is trampled on? That’s how autocracies behave, not democracies.”
Dr Wareham was also very critical of the great speed with which 601 submissions were assessed and a decision made. “From our communication with the NCA, we understand that the Agency was struggling to properly handle such a large number of submissions, but within a very short space of time a decision has been made.”
APRIL 2021
NATIONAL CAPITAL AUTHORITY - REJECT AWM 'EARLY WORKS'
The proposed “early works” at the AWM should be categorically rejected, as they are an integral part of the proposed AWM redevelopment which has not yet been authorised.
Anything less than this would be a sheer travesty, for which the NCA would rightly be characterised as nothing more than an unprincipled rubber stamp.
In addition, the proposed “early works” would violate important National Capital Plan environmental and other principles.
Read MAPW's full submission to the National Capital Authority.
MARCH 2021
UNDER PRESSURE, BAE ENDS PARTNERSHIP
In March 2021, MAPW received confirmation from Matthew Anderson, the AWM director, that the sponsorship deal with BAE Systems was not renewed.
Anderson informed MAPW there was no longer a financial relationship between the AWM and BAE Systems, and the BAE Systems Theatre has been rebranded.
In June 2020, we met with Matthew Anderson to brief him on the convictions and allegations of corruption, human rights abuses, and war crimes against some of the weapons companies who sponsor the AWM.
Also in June, we generated media coverage of the AWM partnership with BAE, highlighting BAE's role in supplying arms to the war on Yemen - the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
In July 2020 we presented to the parliamentary standing committee on public works' inquiry into the proposed half-billion dollar expansion of the AWM, and were privileged to be joined by Kellie Merritt - widow of Flight Lt Paul Pardoel, killed on operational duty in Iraq in 2005.
In AWM redevelopment public consultations between 2019-2021, MAPW members and supporters repeatedly raised the issue of vested interests in the Memorial.
Thank you to everyone who has taken action to kick vested interests out of our national memorial.
JULY 2020
WISHFUL THINKING
We presented evidence to the parliamentary standing committee for public works' inquiry into the proposed half-billion dollar expansion of the AWM.
Our evidence counters the AWM assertion that the memorial provides an effective therapeutic milieu for veterans suffering serious mental health issues as a result of war service.
Read the Guardian's coverage of the inquiry, and download our full submission here.
Read a more detailed analysis of post-traumatic stress and moral injury here.
NARROW, MARGINALISING
MAPW opposes the proposed AWM redevelopment. We believe that the additional prominent displays of military machinery would entrench a narrow, militaristic view of Australia’s history and heritage, and the redevelopment would continue the marginalisation of critically important aspects of Australia’s wars.
Read our full submission regarding the AWM's EPBC referral.
JUNE 2020
Not Fitting, not Dignified
We've met with new AWM Director, Matthew Anderson, and provided a brief on the convictions and allegations of corruption, human rights abuses, and war crimes against major AWM sponsors.
JANUARY 2020
Brendan Nelson takes job with Boeing, weeks after stepping down as head of Australian War Memorial
Former director Brendan Nelson has taken a senior job with Boeing, a company that gave corporate sponsorship to the AWM. MAPW is quoted as describing the sponsorship as "contemptible".
Read the full Guardian article.
AWM consultation a box-ticking exercise
The process had the hallmarks of being rushed, poorly executed and, really, not all that important to the Memorial. Boxes about public consultation will be ticked, and the remaking of the AWM will thunder on.
Read the full opinion piece from MAPW National President, Dr Sue Wareham, in RiotACT.
DECEMBER 2019
AWM REDEVELOPMENT
MAPW has submitted a comment under section 74(3) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 on the Memorial’s proposed $498 million redevelopment.
Read the full submission here.
SEPTEMBER 2019
We demean our history when we turn the Australian War Memorial into Disneyland
Read Paul Daley's column in the Guardian, with comment from MAPW VP Dr Margie Beavis.
APRIL 2019
Emphasising commemoration at the expense of the living?
Read Dr Margie Beavis' Canberra Times op-ed
AWM funding conflict concerns
Read Dr Sue Wareham's Canberra Times letter.
JUNE 2018
Should arms dealers really be funding the Australian War Memorial?
Read Toni Hassan's interview with Brendan Nelson in the Sydney Morning Herald.
MAY 2018
Manufacture. Sell. Deploy. Commemorate: is this how we should memorialise war?
Read Paul Daley's Guardian article, with comment from MAPW.