In May we released an article documenting the developing links between Geelong City Council, local business and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in the form of the Geelong Defence Alliance (GDA). There have been rapid developments in the subsequent months, as investment into military manufacturing in Geelong rolls on.
The engineering and manufacturing companies Marand and Rheinmetall announced a 50 million dollar extension to their existing manufacturing partnership with the ADF and will now build more Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) for the Australian Defence Force and for ‘export orders’. (G, 2023) At the end of June, Viva Energy, who run a large oil refinery in Corio signed a 2.7 billion dollar contract to supply the ADF with high-flash jet fuel for the next 6 years. The contract also contains the option for another 6 year extension. (Lamacraft, 2023)
Marand are an engineering company that services and designs products for the defence, aerospace, mining, rail, and energy industries. Their customer base includes Rheinmetall, plus Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, and Boeing. In other words, companies linked to the indiscriminate killings of civilians in international military conflicts and companies whose directors are probably deserving of the title war criminal. Rheinmetall, based in Brisbane, is a manufacturing company and the largest supplier of military vehicles to the ADF. (Marand and Rheinmetall, 2023)
Rheinmetall will be producing CRV’s not only for the ADF, but also the German military. Only this week the Anthony Albanese and the Labor government announced a new 1 billion dollar contract with the Bundeswehr which includes the delivery of 100 ‘Boxers’. (The Guardian, 2023)
In turn, Viva plans to construct 90 million litres of diesel storage tanks on site in Corio, due for completion in 2024. (Cave, 2023) The Corio refinery is an essential part of maintaining Australia’s fuel supply, and one of only two nationally. This also makes Geelong a target in any military conflict where an opponent is looking to cripple not only the ADF but the national economy.
Nevertheless, Pat Conroy, the Labor Minister for the Defence Industry is quoted saying “We are really pleased about the difference this will make in the regional centre of Geelong in Victoria. The Government is working hard to build a resilient fuel supply for Defence and to strengthen Australia’s national security – and this domestic fuel supply contract will contribute to this.”
Geelong Anarchist-Communists would like to dissent. Geelong deserves much better than an industry based on maintaining Australian imperialism and the war industry. In light of recent council budget blow-outs, corporations like Viva who stand to make billions should be, at minimum, forced to pay more tax to contribute to things Geelong actually needs; housing, libraries, social workers, surf life saving services, renewable energy.
The development of the Geelong Defence Alliance, the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Center, Marand and Rheinmetall’s expanded contracts and Vivas new one are akin to the recent Thales contract to build ‘bushmaster’ troop carriers in Bendgio. (G, 2023) This is reflective of a new tendency in Australian capitalism, to fill in the void of local manufacturing for civilian industries with state-subsidised military manufacturing. Marand, for example, operates from the old Ford Factory in Geelong. This can only reflect the ramping up of the imperial ambitions of Australia and its allies, and attempts to integrate and make local working-class populations dependent on the war industry.
Furthermore, the world desperately needs to ramp up the transition to renewables. To do this will still require the use of fossil fuels. The limited use of fossil fuel resources should be focused on energy transition, not warfare. While Viva claims it is ‘working with the ADF on transition’ we can be safely assured that this is meaningless. A sustainable world will not require gigantic waste of resources on military armaments. Viva are already the subject of a local campaign ‘Geelong Renewables Not Gas‘, against their plans for a destructive gas import terminal in Corio bay.
In light of these developments Geelong Anarchist-Communists reiterates its call to oppose the development of Australias national war economy. In war it is the working classes of different nations who die while their respective capitalists profit, in response we propose further efforts at international solidarity. Australia is complicit in war crimes and imperial ambition in countries from Afghanistan to Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste, and it is our duty to oppose such imperialism from within. So down with the Geelong Defence Alliance and Australias war industry!
Article by Tommy L.
References
Cave, M. (2023). Viva Energy secures Australia Defence Force Fuel Supply Contract. Viva Energy. https://www.vivaenergy.com.au/media/news/2023/viva-energy-secures-australia-defence-force-fuel-supply-contract
G, J. (2023, May 18). Thales Australia to deliver new Bushmasters to Australian Defence Force. Australian Manufacturing. https://www.australianmanufacturing.com.au/thales-australia-to-deliver-new-bushmasters-to-australian-defence-force/
G, J. (2023, May 29). Marand and Rheinmetall to manufacture Boxer CRVs in Geelong. Australian Manufacturing. https://www.australianmanufacturing.com.au/marand-and-rheinmetall-to-manufacture-boxer-crvs-in-geelong/
The Guardian. (2023, July 10). Anthony Albanese announces $1bn defence deal with Germany before Nato talks. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/10/albanese-announces-1bn-defence-deal-with-germany-ahead-of-nato-talks
Lamacraft, T. (2023, July 3). Viva signs billion dollar defence deal. Bay FM 939. https://www.bay939.com.au/news/local-news/140775-viva-signs-billion-dollar-defence-dealMarand and Rheinmetall. (2023, May 27).
Anarchist Communist Federation - Geelong 
One thought on “Marand, Rheinmetall and Viva – the continued expansion of the defence industry in Geelong”