Tim Watts (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

This is not the first time I have spoken in this chamber—on a suspension motion on this issue from the Greens in the morning, and from the member for Kennedy in the afternoon. As I said this morning, motions of this kind are procedural motions that, members know, are always opposed by the government. They are motions to suspend government business in the House. The opposition to these motions should not be mischaracterised as any reflection on the content of these motions. These are votes that are made the procedural reorganisation of the business, which is the substance of this motion. But today in the parliament, as we have seen in previous days, we have seen multiple crossbenchers seeking to make foreign policy via procedural motions in this parliament. That is not the way we make foreign policy in this government.

Since the appalling terrorist attacks of 7 October, the Albanese government has taken a consistent, principled approach—an approach grounded in bringing Australians together in challenging times, an approach grounded in the leadership that this country needs. We have consistently condemned Hamas's appalling terrorist attacks on 7 October. We have condemned the murder of 1,200 people, the use of sexual violence on that day and the taking of hostages which continues to this day. We have consistently called for the release of hostages, and will continue to do so until they are released. We've said that Israel had a right of self-defence in the face of this attack by Hamas but, equally, the way that it exercises that right matters. It matters that all parties comply with international humanitarian law in this conflict. We have made the point that Israel must comply with the ICJ's interim decision demanding humanitarian access and the provision of humanitarian supplies necessary for the sustainment of life in Gaza.

We have also repeatedly condemned the growing antisemitism we have seen unleashed by this conflict, as we have condemned the growing Islamophobia we are seeing. The Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and my friend the member for Macnamara have clearly and publicly stood with Jewish communities and faith leaders in the face of antisemitic attacks and vandalism of faith-based schools and places of worship. Just this weekend, the Deputy Prime Minister and the member for Macnamara were at Mount Scopus Memorial College, where they stood in solidarity with that community who were victims of an appalling antisemitic vandalism attack. The member for Macnamara is a former student of Mount Scopus Memorial College, and he said that he was devastated by this act and that it has no place in Australian society—vilification and targeting of a school. The Deputy Prime Minister, who attended with the member for Macnamara, said that it was an appalling act of antisemitism, that it's an issue for the entire nation and that it's absolutely crucial that Jewish and non-Jewish Australians alike are standing up against antisemitism.

That is what we have done and that is why the Prime Minister moved the resolution of this parliament, supported by nearly all MPs, on 16 October 2023. It's a resolution whose principles have remained relevant throughout the horrible months of conflict that have followed. It was a resolution designed to unite this parliament in a common voice. It condemned antisemitism. It recognised that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people, nor their legitimate needs and aspirations, and unequivocally condemned the attacks on Israel by Hamas. It condemned all forms of hate speech and violent extremist activity, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. It recognises that an attack on any religion is an attack on all religions, and that we all share a responsibility to unite, condemn and defeat such an attack on our common values and our way of life. It notes that undermining social cohesion and unity by stoking fear and division risks Australia's domestic security, and it affirms in the strongest possible terms that hateful prejudice has no place in Australia.

Nearly all members of parliament were able to endorse this because it's a unifying statement, a statement of leadership whose principles have remained relevant throughout this conflict. This is what we need to resolve this conflict: peace-building. The only way that we can end this cycle of violence is through a two-state solution, with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace and security within their own states. That takes peacebuilding between the parties. It won't be achieved through procedural motions on the other side of the world in this chamber.

Debate adjourned.

See this speech in context