Delegates from 45 countries are visiting the Land Forces Expo in Melbourne, where protests are continuing for a second day.Outside the Land Forces Expo police and protesters are battling on the streets. But inside, the battle is for business.
Delegates from 45 countries are attending the weapons expo. Many of them are from militaries in the Asia Pacific region. And they have money to spend.For big players such as Lockheed Martin, Land Forces is a chance to showcase its work in Australia. "We only do for each domain every two years. So you really have … a two-year window to talk to these people and forge those relationships."Many of the exhibitors were reluctant to talk about the anti-war protests happening outside the exhibition hall where Land Forces is taking place."Someone filmed me and said, 'How does it feel to be making money off dead children?' or something like that," said Andrew Jupp, CEO of mannequin company Mimikintech.
"The thing is … there's medics here and there's people from other areas. So it's not just, you know, a weapons expo," Mr Jupp said.