Tim Costello, the chief advocate for World Vision Australia, is fiercely against the Australian government’s proposal. He thinks it would make the country one of the world’s largest arms producers and weapons exporters. His comments come in the midst of an ongoing conversation about the strategy’s potential impact. This community’s debate has taken on particular urgency in light of ongoing global strife and humanitarian crises.
The Australian government doesn’t want to stop there—it wants to make Australia one of the ten most successful arms exporters in the world. The former Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne, particularly championed this measure. First, he spelled out an ambitious agenda to dramatically increase the export of Australian-made weapons. Costello’s concerns center around the moral ramifications of this ambition, emphasizing that weapons serve a singular purpose: to kill.
The Ethical Implications of Arms Manufacturing
In his artistic critique, Costello laid bare the destructive fruits of war. He pointedly called out international indifference to the devastation of the ongoing Syrian conflict, which has gone on for over eight years. In response, he insisted that the war could not have dragged on without “armaments profiteering.” He raised the alarm over the terrible human cost that it has wrought.
The statistics are staggering. More than 300,000 lives have been lost to the civil war in Syria—including thousands of children. As of today, 13.5 million people require humanitarian aid in Yemen. In addition, 6.3 million people are internally displaced, and five million others have left their homes in search of shelter across international borders.
Costello condemned the government’s contrasting of armament production with a decrease in humanitarian assistance. He noted that while discussions about becoming a major arms exporter gain momentum, life-saving assistance for those affected by conflicts is being cut.
“The government says this is an export and investment opportunity, but we would be exporting death and profiting from bloodshed,” – Tim Costello.
The Media’s Role in Reporting Arms Export Policies
In his attempts to interest them, Costello decried what he called an unethical limitation in the industry of journalism. He cited an example of a practice where for reporters it’s very common to promise not to use damaging third-party quotes in early drafts of stories. In doing so, this practice sets a dangerous precedent for accountability and transparency in reporting.
Costello recounted an encounter she had with a reporter. The journalist pulled a quote he had given six months ago, but did not contact him for further comments. This raises a number of important questions, including the gaps in communication, accountability, the ethics underlying journalist-source relationships, and transparency.
One well-known advocate for this new paradigm reminded us all why it’s so important, calling on journalists to serve their audience before serving their source.
“Reporters should ignore this unethical constraint and remember that their main responsibility is to their readers, viewers and listeners, not their sources,” – Anonymous source.
Political Reactions and Accountability
The political backlash against Costello’s comments has been deafening. Some now-former staffers from then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office responded with aggression. They went after those outspoken journalists who had the gall to question the arms export policy.
These statements highlight the growing friction between government actors and media professionals in addressing important topics like illegal arms exports.
“You’re a f***ing disgrace.” – Staffer in then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office.
Another staff member expressed disdain for journalistic standards by stating:
“You’re a s*** journalist. You’re pathetic. This is journalism 101. You don’t deserve to be in the gallery. You’re not good enough.” – Staffer in then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office.
These remarks underscore the tensions between media representatives and political figures when discussing sensitive issues such as arms exports.
