Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to send a message to the Labor Party from Feras Shaheen, who is co-president of the Tasmanian Palestine Advocacy Network and a Palestinian-Australian desperately trying to bring his family from Gaza to Australia before it's too late for them. Feras has asked me to deliver this message to the Labor government:

How can I feel equal in Australia? You say you are doing the best you can to support Palestinians in Gaza and in this country, but the reality is the community is doing the majority of this work.

We rally, fundraise, share the stories that mainstream media won't, all while grieving the loss of our people, our land, our history, our culture.

Meanwhile you supply weapon parts to Israel and fail to sanction Israel. You do not offer humanitarian visas to people fleeing Gaza.

You seek to censor Palestinian chants and voices.

The way you treat Palestinians in Palestine reflects how you treat Palestinian Australians.

Israel won't stop until other countries and force them to stop. Palestinians know this because we have been experiencing this injustice for 76 years.

Words without action won't save innocent Palestinian lives. You must divest, stop trade, champion boycotts.

No amount of aid, grants, therapy will help without divestment and a ceasefire. You can't bring our families back from the dead.

As long as you keep enabling Israel, blood is on your hands. Australian military hardware is being used by Israel to kill my family. I condemn Australia's complicity.

Thank you for your powerful words, Feras, and for your courage, your compassion and your leadership. (Time expired)