Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I offer my deepest condolences and sympathies to those Australians who have relatives in Israel who have been subject to this horrific violence or who are currently being held hostage. We offer our prayers to those who are held hostage and call for their immediate release.

I wholeheartedly condemn Hamas's acts of pure evil from a terrorist organisation. I stand with the people of Israel. The Albanese government stands with the people of Israel during this difficult period. We certainly recognise that Israel has the right to defend itself and its people during this bloody conflict.

As soon as we heard the news of the Hamas attack on the Israeli people, the Prime Minister called the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Our foreign minister spoke to the Israeli foreign minister and our defence minister spoke to the Israeli ambassador and offered the support of the Australian people and the assistance of the Australian government to the people of Israel during this difficult period. Today the Prime Minister outlined the support that is being provided by the Australian government, both the logistical support and the humanitarian support that will flow in the coming days.

I'm very proud to represent a community that has a wonderful Jewish population. They are great Australian citizens who contribute to the community that we're fortunate to live in. On Friday evening I spent time at Mount Sinai, the Maroubra shule and the Coogee shule to express my support and solidarity with Jewish members of our community and the people of Israel. On Saturday, I was with the Hakoah football club prior to their game at Heffron Park, again to express my support for Jewish members of our community. I want them to know that I stand with them and that the Australian government stands with them during this difficult time. I also recognise that, unfortunately, many members of Australia's Jewish community have been the subject of some horrific and shocking antisemitic behaviour over the past week. Such behaviour stands condemned. There is no place—no place at all at any time—for antisemitism here in Australia.

Australia prides itself on being a proudly multicultural nation, a nation that has made a success of multiculturalism because of a culture of respect, diversity and understanding of people of different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. We celebrate the fact that in our homes we speak about 200 different languages, we boast about 180 different ancestries and we practise many different religions and theologies, but we do so in an environment of peace, respect and goodwill. That is what characterises Australia. That is part of the fabric of our nation. Over the past week, that multiculturalism has been tested. All Australians have an obligation to uphold those values of respect and inclusivity in Australian society.

The Australian government is doing all it can to ensure that Australians who are in Israel and surrounding territories and wish to return home get the support they need to do that. A number of repatriation flights have occurred or are occurring as we speak. The Australian Defence Force has deployed a number of planes to transport people out of flashpoint areas and potential conflict zones, and Qantas, of course, is assisting with that repatriation. I encourage any Australians who have loved ones who are still in the area and wish to return home to contact Smartraveller and the Department of Foreign Affairs as soon as possible to get information regarding those repatriation flights. The government will continue to provide that support for as long as it is needed to get Australians and their loved ones home as quickly as possible.

Many Australians have been affected by this issue over the course of the last week, and I implore all members of the community that I represent and wider Australia to remember the success that we've made of multiculturalism and remember what a virtue that is for our nation. Remain respectful of people of diverse backgrounds at all times. Any violence will be condemned and anyone undertaking violence will be prosecuted under Australian law. Now is not the time for division and hate. Now is the time for unity and respect. We call on all Australians to show that respect for each other during this difficult period and to look out for family, friends, loved ones and those of different cultures and faiths. Particularly, we express our support and our love for members of Australia's Jewish community during this difficult time. I, again, offer the support of my office in the community that I represent and am very proud to continue to work with the Jewish community in the area of Kingsford-Smith.

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