Michaelia Cash: Anthony Albanese's Palestinian statehood push is a reward for terror
It was nothing of the sort.
It was a gift to Hamas, proof of which came just 48 hours later when Mr Albanese was praised by the terrorist group for his decision.
When terrorists congratulate your foreign policy, you are doing something very wrong.
The endorsement of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, co-founder of the terrorist group Hamas, of Mr Albanese's decision to recognise Palestine as a state should horrify all Australians.
That's the same listed terrorist organisation responsible for the massacre of October 7, the kidnapping of hostages, and the ongoing rocket fire into Israel.
You do not achieve peace by rewarding terrorists.
All Australians should be appalled at the massive propaganda victory Mr Albanese has handed Hamas on a platter.
Mr Albanese has been proven to be completely out of his depth on this vital foreign policy matter.
He told Australians Hamas would reject his position to recognise a Palestinian state.
The decision does not make the world a safer place, expedite the end of the conflict, deliver a two-state solution, see the free flow of aid, support the release of hostages or put an end to the terrorist group Hamas.
Mr Albanese's decision is effectively unconditional recognition. It will go ahead in September, no matter what.
Recognition before the hostages are freed, before Hamas is defeated, and before any security guarantees are in place is not diplomacy. It is dangerous naivety.
It hands Hamas one of the strategic objectives they sought when they unleashed their campaign of terror in 2023.
Recognition should come at the end of a genuine peace process, not at its beginning.
It should be the culmination of negotiations in which both sides make real compromises, leading to a secure Israel and a secure Palestine living side by side.
That was the bipartisan consensus in this country for decades.
By breaking from that cautious, measured approach, Mr Albanese has abandoned the position that recognition must be conditional on the renunciation of terrorism, the release of hostages, and the recognition of Israel's right to exist.
If recognition is to mean anything, it must be tied to clear, enforceable conditions.
Mr Albanese himself has said these include: no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state; full demilitarisation; recognition of Israel's right to exist in peace and security; free and fair elections; governance reform, financial transparency, and education oversight to prevent incitement to violence.
But here's the problem: none of these conditions have been met. And worse still, Mr Albanese has given no timetable for when they must be.
How will these conditions be enforced? What proof will be required? And if they are broken, will recognition be revoked, or will Labor simply turn a blind eye?
These are basic questions any serious government would answer before making a major foreign policy decision. Mr Albanese has answered none of them.
In truth, the Palestinian Authority, which Mr Albanese claims can deliver these guarantees, has a poor record of honouring its commitments.
It has failed to comply with the Oslo Accords, continues to make payments to convicted terrorists and their families, and has not held proper elections in nearly 20 years.
Worse, just last year, the Palestinian Authority signed the 2024 Beijing Declaration with Hamas, agreeing to form an interim unity government that would include Hamas, the very terrorists Labor now says will have 'no role' in a Palestinian state.
Polling from the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research — based in Ramallah — shows about 40 per cent of Palestinians currently support Hamas. In Gaza, almost half still back them to govern.
Recognising a Palestinian state now risks legitimising a terrorist organisation with significant public support, entrenching their power rather than isolating them.
The US has been clear: it does not support unilateral recognition. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that similar recognition by France actually caused talks with Hamas to collapse.
Mr Albanese should also answer a simple question: what state is he recognising?
A state with no agreed borders? No single government in control of its territory? No demonstrated capacity to live in peace with its neighbours?
Australians want the war in Gaza to end. So do I. But that will not happen because of a symbolic gesture from Canberra.
It will happen only when the conditions for peace are in place — and that means removing Hamas from the equation entirely.
Until then, recognition is not just premature. It is reckless.
And the Albanese Government's decision will be remembered as a political gesture that rewarded terror, weakened our alliances, and made lasting peace harder to achieve.
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