Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I stand here with a very heavy heart—heavy for the pain of war in the Middle East and heavy for the unconscionable behaviour of those opposite and those in the Greens political party in this chamber. We on this side in the Labor Party unequivocally condemn all prejudice and hatred. There is no place in Australia for discrimination against people of any faith or background. As we mourn and reflect at this point in time, we also reaffirm a fundamental principle of our shared humanity: every innocent life matters. That's every Palestinian, that's every Israeli, and that's every Lebanese person.

We on this side of the chamber are pressing for a ceasefire for increased humanitarian access, for the release of hostages and to prevent regional escalation. We urgently need diplomatic solutions. The Middle East needs to be de-escalated. There needs to be movement for de-escalation to prevent any further atrocities than what we have seen. As we are pressing for a ceasefire and pressing for civilians to be protected, the hostages must be released, and aid must flow. We're also calling for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, and those displaced civilians on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border must be able to safely return to their homes. Australia and our international partners have been really clear. We want to see peace now and we want to see the cycle of violence end. International law must be observed, and we all must do everything we can to seek to end this war.

The dishonest lines of questioning that we have seen today by the coalition and the Greens as they fixate on politicising what is a human tragedy are, I think, disgraceful to this place, to this chamber. Cherry-picking elements of this devastating war for their own political purposes shows a total and utter lack of respect for the unbelievable pain, grief and loss across the Middle East and the impact that has on communities and families across the world and right here at home, in Australia. You should really be deeply ashamed of yourselves.

As Senator Wong pointed out, Mr Burgess made some good comments that we should all really deeply consider the need to watch our language, the need to understand the direct connection between the words and the tone used and the actions that they then promote or insight in the broader elements of our community. As political leaders, we all need to think about the responsibility we have, the responsibility placed upon us when we were elected to this place, and think long and hard about what we say and how we say it. Ask yourself: Are you amplifying distress? Are your words inciting violence? Are you blatantly lying for your own political purposes? Are you seeking a solution to end the war? No, I don't think you are. But you should be. Are you actually just picking a side and joining in, when it is beholden upon us to be better than that, to rise above that and to seek peaceful international solutions?

I say again, we unequivocally condemn all prejudice and hatred. There is no place in Australia for discrimination against people of any faith. We also reaffirm that fundamental principle of shared humanity. Every innocent life matters. And we need to show some leadership in this place and stop using this atrocious war for our political purposes.