"The last thing Australia needs is a holy war," Nick Deane, spokesperson for the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN), said.
"Our federal government should reject completely any consideration of sending our air force personnel to drop bombs on Islamic State forces in Iraq and Syria, or sending our troops or SAS into combat in those countries. We know now only too well the inevitable civilian casualties from such actions.
“The humanitarian emergency we see unfolding in Iraq and Syria is a direct result of the disastrous policies of military intervention which the US has followed in the Middle East for more than 10 years", Deane said. "Up until now Australian Governments of both political persuasions have abjectly followed a US lead. It is time we showed an independent approach in our foreign policy.
“A humanitarian disaster requires a humanitarian response, not bombs and missiles."
IPAN is a network of more than 50 peace organisations from every state in Australia, and represents the voices of many thousands of everyday Australians.
"We call on the Australian government to reject this military madness, and play a positive and proactive peace-making role in international affairs. An important step in that process is for all Australian politicians to agree to calls for the Australian parliament to have oversight of any Australian government commitment to foreign military engagements."
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