Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

It's the same position that was held by Menzies, Holt, Gorton, Fraser and Howard; the same position that was held by Tony Abbott; the same position that was held by Malcolm Turnbull; the same position that they sat there, up until 2018, and held. And what happened in 2018 was there was a by-election held in the electorate of Wentworth, and they said that they would change what had been a bipartisan position since the creation of Israel in 1948. They said that, but, once they got through the election, they didn't follow it through. They didn’t move the Australian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Say what you like about Donald Trump, at least he followed it through. At least he followed through the position. Those opposite did not, thereby showing that this was not a decision of substance. It was a decision of gesture. What we need in the Middle East to secure peace is substance, not gestures. We need peace in the Middle East to be based upon a two-state solution, which recognises the right of Israel to exist in secure borders and also recognises the rights of the Palestinian people. My government will not waiver in our support of Israel or of the Jewish community in Australia. We're also unwavering supporters of the rights of the Palestinian people. What we need is a solution to the Middle East, not playing domestic politics during a by-election in order to secure a so-called advantage.

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