The Wire

Currently 14000 soldiers are stationed at Shoalwater Bay US near Rockhampton in Queensland. Along with 8500 Australian troops, they are taking part in Operation Talisman Sabre, the world’s largest military exercise, combining land, sea and air forces. A Peace Convergence is gathered at Shoalwater to protest the joint military training – and Australia’s military spending of $70 million a day. Meanwhile in Sydney, a protest took place on Saturday, demanding that the military budget be cut, and the money be spent on education, health, public transport and the environment.