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

We're approaching a year since the genocide in Gaza started. At least 40,000 people have been killed, although the true number is likely and tragically far higher. The Labor government in Australia has abjectly failed to stand up for peace, to stand up for justice and to stand up in the face of this humanitarian catastrophe. They've been slow, they've been passive, and they've been weak-willed in their response to a genocide. For nearly a year now, while Palestinians have faced unimaginable suffering, the horrors of genocide, Labor has been complicit. They speak about hoping for peace but have done nothing to stop the bloodshed. They use passive language, condemning violence but never condemning those responsible. From Labor's statements, you'd think those bombs were dropping themselves. They've refused to demand accountability from the State of Israel and its leaders for war crimes and have instead chosen to be complicit.

When Labor MPs travelled to Israel, they rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire. Labor even expelled Senator Fatima Payman for voting in line with Labor's own platform to recognise the state of Palestine. For nearly a year, Labor have refused to impose sanctions on the State of Israel, they've enabled the export of weapons components and they've indeed failed to impose any accountability. Their cowardice is a stain on their party and a stain on our country. History will not forget Labor's betrayal of Palestinian people.