The ANZ bank has been found to provide loans of $136.5 million to producers of cluster bombs, further tarnishing the banks investment portfolio.

Mr Alistair Gee, Executive Director of Act for Peace (the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia), said, “The government should go one step further and include a prohibition on these explosive investments in national law.”

“The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties in August 2009 recommended that the Australian Government consider preventing investment by Australian companies that produce cluster munitions.”

Mr Gee said “Financial investment in cluster bomb manufactures represents a choice to support the production of weapons that maim civilians and hinder development in some of the poorest countries. Few Australians would be able to tell you whether this choice has been made for them, by their bank or through their superannuation fund. This represents an unethical investment by ANZ and should be dealt with accordingly through national legislation in the absence of corporate morality.”

“During Disarmament Week, we may see the bill rushed through parliament. I am hoping that its passage will involve robust and well-informed debate among all parliamentarians of both houses, resulting in an outcome that protects unknowing investors as well as victims and survivors of armed conflict”, said Mr Gee.

New Zealand, Ireland, Luxembourg and Belgium have all introduced legislation to ban investments in Cluster Munitions.

Act for Peace is encouraging Australians to take concerted action during the UN Disarmament Week. The campaign will highlight progress toward a ban on financial investment in Cluster Munitions, work toward an Arms Trade Treaty and a Nuclear Weapons Convention.

Mr Gee said, “The goal of this campaign is also to scrutinise what the Australian Government actually spends on disarmament initiatives. We know that the average Australian taxpayer pays $1,230 per year on military expenditure. We should also be able to see what the government is doing to promote de-militirisation and the removal of weapons which continue to fuel poverty, corruption and insecurity. “

Act for Peace supports disarmament and demining programs around the world. In June 2010 alone, our partner’s program in Iraq cleared 568,000m2 of land and removed and destroyed 10,512 conventional weapons and hazardous items. 

Media Enquiries: Edwyn Shiell 0458 303 515

Further Information:

For Disarmament Week online actions and resources www.actforpeace.org.au/disarm. For a copy of the Act for Peace Disarmament Week brochure www.actforpeace.org.au/disarmbrochure

For a pdf copy of this release,  click here