General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc
220. Hon Sophie McNeill to the minister representing the Minister for Defence Industries:
I refer to the memorandum of understanding signed with General Dynamics Mission Systems Incorporated that was announced by Minister Paul Papalia on 14 April this year.
(1) Is the minister aware that General Dynamics has been identified as supplying the Israeli Defence Force with artillery, ammunition and bombs used in the genocide in Gaza, including the MK-84 bomb, which has been described as one of the most destructive weapons used in the war, and that United Nations human rights experts have singled out General Dynamics as a company that has knowingly provided assistance for operations that contravene international human rights and international humanitarian laws?
(2) Has the government conducted any assessment regarding the ethics and conduct of General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc?
Hon Matthew Swinbourn replied:
I thank the member for some notice of the question. I congratulate her on her first question to the house. The Minister for Defence Industries has provided me with the following answer.
(1)–(2) The Western Australian Government conducts an assessment on all international partners with which it signs memoranda of understanding. The Western Australian Government entered into an MOU with General Dynamics Mission Systems, a communication and cyber business, which is a subsidiary of General Dynamics.
