A group of Palestinian human rights organizations has launched legal actions against Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles over Australian exports of arms to Israel, according to an Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) press release on Monday.
ACIJ, the legal center representing the group, stated that the group filed an application in the Federal Court to force the Australian government to release documents related to arms exports.
This is the second time the group has attempted to access such documents, with their first attempt having been discontinued shortly after it was launched in November of 2023, ACIJ stated.
Documents sought include export permits granted prior to 2023 that remain active, and permits for the export of arms that are not supplied directly to Israel.
ACIJ, rights groups aim to determine whether Marles properly assessed risks
The group is aiming to determine whether Marles “properly assessed the risk that the arms goods or technology” may be used to commit alleged human rights abuses over the course of the Israel-Hamas War, which began after Hamas launched the October 7 massacre against Israel in 2023.
According to ACIJ, “if the documents show that the Minister has not properly assessed such risk, it may pave the way for a legal claim alleging that the Minister is in legal error and that exports must end.”
ABC News Australia reported that last year, Australia's Department of Defense acknowledged that at least 30 permits for Australian companies to send "military use" items to Israel had been cleared, and another 16 were still under review.
But according to ABC Australia, the department has continuously refused to provide specific information about the nature of the exports.