Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I second the motion. It's crucial that we suspend standing orders and have this debate to understand the position of the government and this parliament. A bipartisan motion last October in this House made it clear that we stand with Israel and recognise its inherent right to defend itself. We need to know today whether this government still believes that after those concerning reports that the member for Canning talked about. It's crucial that we know that because we need to show our commitment to the Jewish community here in Australia and our friends and allies in Israel.

I want to pay tribute to the member for Berowra who has carried a heavy load since 7 October on behalf of many in his community. The member for Macnamara has as well on the other side. Many people have. Motions like this are important to the Jewish community. They are seeing the most fundamental attack on who they are since 7 October. We have seen a rise in antisemitism that is unprecedented since World War II. We need to stand strong and send a message to our allies in Israel and our friends in the Jewish community here in Australia that we stand with them; we support them, and we support the Israeli nation to self-defend against a terrorist organisation.

This is how simple this motion is. It says:

That the House reaffirms Israel's inherent right to self-defence, whether attacked by Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran or any other sponsor of terrorism.

That is what we want to debate and vote on today. It'll be interesting to see whether the government does suspend standing and sessional orders to allow us to have that debate, because it is very concerning to see these reports that the Israeli ambassador was hauled before the assistant minister. It feels very much like they're hauling the Israeli ambassador before the government. I know those in our armed services would have liked them to be that strong when the CCP was engaging in dangerous military tactics against our army. It's a question for the Prime Minister and the foreign minister: why are they holding the Israeli army, the Israeli nation and the Israeli ambassador to a higher standard than the CCP? It is a question they need to answer.

Let's be very clear. Hezbollah is a listed terrorist organisation in Australia. The UN Security Council resolution 1701, passed in 2006, says that southern Lebanon, below the Litani River, should be a demilitarised zone, but this is exactly where Hezbollah is operating from and attacking Israel. The charter of the United Nations, chapter 7, article 51, says:

Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations …

We know, the world knows and the Australian government knows that since 7 October, Hezbollah has been attacking northern Israel, forcing many Israelis to flee their homes. Yet they haul the ambassador—our friend and ally—in and tell him that we won't support them, that we will not be there to support the Israeli people and a democratic nation from attacks. The question is: why is the Albanese government walking away from our democratic friends and partners?

Suspending standing and sessional orders is crucial because, right now, our parliament is being protested and there are antisemitic signs being put up at the front of this place—as we speak. There is no more important motion to discuss right now than showing our support in this House, on all sides, for the democratically elected Israeli nation. There are antisemitic signs being hung in front of the parliament, the heart of democracy in Australia, right now. If this government are not prepared to debate this and show their support for the Israeli people then they stand condemned and it is another sign of a prime minister that is weak and trying to play both sides of the fence.

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