If you look at your tax receipt, you might see a list of all the things your tax dollars are directed to — things like health, welfare and defence spending, with defence near the top of the list. Australia's defence budget is set to increase to $764 billion over the next decade, with some of that whopping figure being directed towards local manufacturing such as the more than 70 Australian companies who have been granted F-35 production contracts.

Speaking to guest host Oslo Davis, Hashmat Moslih says this country's defence spending makes Australia a "partner in crime" to the "slaughter" of civilians that is happening throughout the world. Hashmat is a political analyst and former journalist, and while working as a cameraman, field producer, editor and head of news planning with Al Jazeera, he witnessed the human impacts of bombings firsthand. He says that by manufacturing parts for weapons and the increasing militarisation of our ecnonomy, Australia is complicit in international conflicts: "We are supporting a global machine of war."

With both major political parties in lockstep over defence spending, Hashmat encourages Australians to use their voting power to hold the government accountable. "Let's communicate through our vote, that we do not accept this preposterous expenditure on weapons."

He says communication offers some hope: "I believe humans are communicative creatures, with logic and emotion put together. The best way to resolve our differences is communication."

Hashmat Moslih will be one of the keynote speakers at the free community forum 'Your Taxes Fund Weapons', happening tomorrow (Tuesday October 29th) at 6:30pm at Coburg Town Hall.