Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move a motion relating to funding for UNRWA, as circulated.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to the contingent notice of motion standing in the name of Senator Waters, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter—namely, a motion to allow a motion relating to funding for UNRWA to be moved immediately.

As if Labor's aiding and abetting and full-throated support for Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza was not enough, just when one thought the Labor government's disaster of a foreign policy couldn't get any worse, you suspend life-saving aid to UNRWA. That, too, was without a shred of evidence, as we found out through my questioning of Minister Wong. Your hypocrisy knows no bounds. You did not hesitate to collectively punish millions of Palestinians by freezing the life-saving aid to UNRWA without any basis for Israel's claims. But there's not even a slap on the wrist of Israel. In fact, there's unquestioning support for Israel to commit the crime of all crimes: genocide.

On one hand, Minister Wong admits that UNRWA does life-saving work, and then, on the other hand, she halts funding. No-one is being fooled by your doublespeak. The anger, frustration and sense of betrayal in the community is palpable, and rightly so.