On 25 July 2026, community organisations, unions, advocacy groups and and concerned individuals will gather outside the ALP National Conference in Adelaide to call on Federal Labor to invest in people and communities – not militarisation, weapons and war.

Across Australia, people are facing a housing crisis, rising rents, growing inequality and ongoing cost-of-living pressures. Public housing waiting lists continue to grow, essential services are under pressure, and too many people are being left behind.

No one should be living in poverty in a country as wealthy as Australia.

At the same time, Australia is committing hundreds of billions of dollars to military spending, AUKUS and nuclear-powered submarines that risk entangling Australia in future US-led military conflict with China, while social needs continue to go unmet.

If Australia can afford $33 million every day for the next 30 years to pay for AUKUS, we can afford to help the 1 in 7 Australians living in poverty and the thousands who are homeless. We can afford quality healthcare, public education and the services we need.

Rather than investing in communities, governments are expanding military spending while increasing investment in prisons, policing, surveillance technologies and anti-protest laws that undermine civil liberties and target vulnerable communities.

We believe there is a better path.

Our message is simple:

Social Spending, Not War Spending.

We call on the ALP to invest in people and communities, not in expanding military expenditure. 

Public money should be directed towards building a fairer, healthier, more sustainable society and more peaceful society.

We stand together in support of:

🏠  Public housing and homelessness services
💚  Free and accessible healthcare
📚  Public education and training
💰  Adequate income support and an end to poverty
📈  Government leadership to deliver real wage increases above the inflation rate
🖤💛❤️ Self-determination for First Nations peoples, with treaties that guarantee
sovereignty and land rights
🌏  Climate action and a just transition, with no new fossil fuel approvals
🇵🇸    Peace, justice and freedom for Palestine — sanction Israel
⚓  End AUKUS
🛑  No cuts to the NDIS
🤝  Strong, thriving communities through democratic participation and grassroots
organising
📢  Protect the right to protest and speak out for social justice

What you can do

The challenges we face won’t be solved by one rally or one organisation alone. Real change happens when people come together, get organised and keep putting pressure on governments to act.

We invite you to:

Come along to the rally on the 25th July, and organise a contingent from your organisation, union and/or community group. 

  • Endorse this Joint Statement if you’re part of a community organisation, union or advocacy group.
  • Contact your local MP and Senators and tell them to prioritise social spending over war spending.
  • Get involved by joining a community organisation, union or grassroots campaign working for the issues you care about.
  • Share this statement with your friends, family, colleagues and networks, and get them involved in activity with you.

Together, we can build a stronger movement for a fairer, more peaceful world.

Endorse the Joint Statement


Community organisations, unions and advocacy groups are invited to endorse this Joint Statement in support of the Social Spending, Not War Spending Rally being held during the ALP National Conference.

By endorsing this statement, your organisation is showing support for the rally’s broad message and the shared principle that governments should prioritise investment in people and communities over increasing military spending.

To endorse the statement:
Email your organisation’s name to info@apnsa.org
Attach your organisation’s logo (PNG or JPG preferred)
Use the subject line: Endorsement Logo
Your organisation’s logo will be added to the webpage and included on future promotional materials where possible.