Media Alert
Friday 24 July 2026
National peace conference opens today in Adelaide
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) National Conference, “Time to break free from the USA”, opens today in Adelaide and runs across the weekend, concurrently with the ALP National Conference.
Today’s events include a protest outside ALP National Conference at 8am this morning, followed by a boat trip to Osborne Naval Shipyards (the future home of AUKUS submarines), at 1pm this afternoon. Conference proceedings begin this evening at 6:30pm with a public meeting headlined by prominent US journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin.
Other major speakers throughout the conference include:
- Major (Ret) Cameron Leckie – former Australian Army, on AUKUS and Force Posture Agreement
- Sue Haseldine – Kokatha elder from Ceduna; advocate for environmental protection
- Senator David Shoebridge – Australian Greens spokesperson for foreign affairs and defence
- Richard Tanter – Nautilus Institute; expert researcher on US military bases in Australia
- Peter Cronau – investigative journalist and co-founder of Declassified Australia
The Friday Public Opening will be held at The Old Stock Exchange, Adelaide.
The conference will run 9am - 5pm Saturday and Sunday, at U-City, Adelaide.
The conference draws together voices from across Australian life, military veterans, parliamentarians, First Nations Elders, journalists, researchers, unionists and students, connecting people across age, trade and interest. Among the younger speakers, Ethan Floyd will share his firsthand experience aboard the Palestine flotilla, and Nathalie Farah will speak about her role as a key organiser of the recent convergence on Pine Gap.
IPAN Chairperson Annette Brownlie said today that many hundreds of Australians from all walks of life had registered to attend, reflecting widespread unease within the Australian community at Australia's growing entanglement with an increasingly erratic and predatory United States.
“Just in the last few days, the US have announced they will be helping Saudi Arabia to join the nuclear club. No doubt our Prime Minister will have nothing to say about this at the ALP conference.”
“This conference will build momentum for a change of direction. It is truly time to break free from the USA."
Abby Martin and other conference speakers are available for media comment.
Media Liaison: Phil Davey 0414 867 188, [email protected]
