NSW Police have arrested 10 people during a protest outside a defence conference at the Sydney International Convention Centre (ICC).
Dozens of demonstrators from Palestine Action Group gathered outside the ICC, which is hosting the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition, just before 6:30am.
The commercial maritime and naval defence expo features Australian and international defence, industry, government, academia and technology organisations, including the Navy and Department of Defence.
Riot squad and mounted unit police officers briefly clashed with protesters as they shouted chants and waved Palestinian flags, with officers deploying pepper spray multiple times into the crowd.
A group of anti-AUKUS protesters had also flagged a demonstration at the event.
Palestine Action Group said it was protesting against the presence of Israeli defence contractors Rafael Advance Systems and the Australian subsidiary of Elbit Systems, which are are listed among dozens of other exhibitors at the event.
Organisers said they had asked NSW Premier Chris Minns to cancel the event.
Mr Minns told ABC Radio Sydney defence exports were a vital component of the state’s economy with the industry worth $3.4 billion last year.
“They’re not selling nuclear weapons … we want to see the industry grow,” he said.
“Defence industries, particularly the maritime sector, is responsible for a massive part of our economy … and in every single plan that I have seen in terms of jobs transitions in the Hunter particularly, as we move away from coal extraction and export, defence industries are a massive part of the future plan.”
The event is sponsored by the NSW government and Investment NSW.
In a statement on its website, Defence Minister Richard Marles said the biennial three-day event “showcases the close cooperation between the Australian Defence Force, defence industry, international partners and other agencies, all working toward the shared goal of maritime security and a peaceful, prosperous Indo-Pacific”.