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The University of Sydney extends partnership with Thales Australia Manning Bar cancels bands with fascist ties

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Luke Cass, Veronica Lenard, and Luke Mesterovic

Manning Bar booked bands Taake and Ahklys to play on 3 February 2023 despite their extensive fascist ties. Manning, owned and operated by the University of Sydney Union (USU), has since cancelled the event after dissent from student activists and University staff.

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Honi has seen extensive information about the use of fascist slogans and symbols, anti-semitic language and Islamaphobia by the bands and their members. Honi will not reproduce that information to not platform these ideologies.

USU President Scott-Curwood told Honi, “The USU was informed of the context surrounding bands Taake and Aklhys who were booked to play at Manning Bar on February 3rd. The USU informed our booking partner that neither Taake nor Aklhys would be playing at Manning Bar. The USU’s booking partner is now working to realise our decision.

“For clarity, I was informed at 4pm November 24 of this situation and the decision that neither band would be playing at Manning Bar was made by 9am November 25.

While the USU did not make this booking, the accountability for it is ours. A strategic programming meeting with the USU’s booking partner has been set up and we’ll be improving the vetting of acts playing at USU venues.”

Students’ Representative Council (SRC) President Lia Perkins said, “There is no place for bands such as Taake and Aklhys to play on campus. These bands promote hateful, racist political views. Taake, specifically, have an alarming abusive history. I am pleased that the USU immediately responded to our concern, and that these events have been cancelled.

I suggest that the USU and Manning Bar review their bookings policy to ensure student safety.”

Taake is still scheduled to play shows in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne.

Neo-nazi activities have previously surfaced on campus. A 2018 Honi investigation revealed the existence of online neo-nazi networks connected with USyd. campus. White supremacist propaganda again appeared on campus earlier this year.

On 22 December 2022, the University of Sydney announced the renewal of its partnership with French defence giant Thales.

The extension of the 2017 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations aims to focus on “big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence.”

The new deal was collectively signed by USyd’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Emma Johnston and Thales Australia and New Zealand CEO Jeff Connolly. It aims to accelerate national security outcomes, embedding staff within each other’s organisation.

Thus far, the partnership has heavily involved the Faculty of Engineering, with Thales funding PhD projects and industry placements. It is expected that this will continue in the fields of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic engineering, as well as Electrical and Informational

USyd Education Officers Yasmine Johnson and Ishbel Dunsmore criticised this development, saying that Australian education is responsible for weapons deployed in brutal wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the militarisation of European borders to prevent refugees from reaching safety, and the oppression of Palestinians,” they said.

Watchkeeper WK450 drone that has been used to support UK’s operations in Afghanistan.

Belinda Hutchinson, USyd’s Chancellor, is also the Chairperson of Thales Australia’s board, having been appointed in 2015. Such a connection has been heavily criticised by staff and students.

The arms manufacturer is infamous for suppressing union movements, complying with the war crimes in Yemen, underpaying workers by $5.4 million and for massive job cuts in their Australian operations. They also have partnerships with Israeli organisations like Elbit Systems, manufacturer of the

A University of Sydney spokesperson mentioned that this partnership has allowed space for development and “academic freedom” for their researchers. “All research must take place in tandem with the university’s mission and core values.

“Signed in 2017 and extended in 2022 the agreement has facilitated the hosting of at least 8 students’ semester placements (ESIPS) at Thales which has helped our students understand how realistic engineering solutions are applied in industry and assess whether their preferred future employment options lie with the company,” said a university spokesperson.

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