Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stares down internal push for Palestine recognition
Anthony Albanese has been urged to follow in the footsteps of his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, but on Sunday said he would not 'imminently' recognise Palestinian statehood.
Both major parties in Australia support a two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis, however Albanese said any resolution would need to guarantee Hamas, the de-facto ruling authority in Gaza, played no part in the future nation.
There would also need to be agreements on the rebuilding of Gaza and the West Bank, and a resolution of issues over the expansion of Israeli settlements.
But former Labor frontbencher Ed Husic pointed out that recognition of a Palestinian state had been part of Labor's national platform since at least 2018.
'We've already green-lighted it through our party, we've taken it to elections — the circumstances demand it,' the MP told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
'The announcement by the (Israeli) government to partition or reshape the way in which borders exist in Gaza means that we need to send a strong signal that we are opposed to that.'
Former Labor Foreign Minister Bob Carr echoed the call.
There were ways to address the various obstacles to the new nation being established, he said, adding those considerations were outweighed by a 'bigger fact and bigger truth'.
'Deaths are coming fast, unspeakable cruelty is being visited against babies and children in the enforcement of something not seen in the modern world — that is, an advanced state using mass starvation as a weapon of war and giving effect to a genocide,' he said.
'We will insist that the Palestinian state that comes into being will be one that opts to be a non-militarised state ... that is a serious security guarantee that can be delivered in negotiations, and which the Palestinians have already offered.'
More than 140 out of the 193 members of the United Nations already recognise the state of Palestine, including EU members Spain and Ireland.
The international push to recognise Palestine has been fuelled by the escalating crisis in Gaza, where more than two million people are facing starvation.
Israel cut off aid to Gaza in March before re-opening channels under tight restrictions in May, measures it says are necessary to stop the supplies being diverted to fund Hamas operations.
Its officials say enough food has been let into Gaza during the war and Hamas is responsible for the suffering of civilians.
Israel's military offensive has already killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in Gaza.
The campaign began after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation in Australia, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and took 251 hostages.
Opposition frontbencher Dan Tehan said Hamas was responsible for continuing to 'politicise and weaponise the use of aid in Gaza'.
Multiple aid organisations, including Amnesty and Medecins Sans Frontieres, have condemned the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation for the trickle of aid being supplied in recent months.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
26 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Police seek to block Palestine march on Harbour Bridge
Police will seek to block plans for activists to march across an iconic Australian landmark calling for more political action on the war in Gaza. Thousands of people were expected to join the march organised by the Palestine Action Group across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday. But NSW Police Acting Commissioner Peter McKenna confirmed the force had decided not to allow the protest and would apply to the Supreme Court to categorise it as unlawful and unauthorised. "The main rationale behind that is quite clearly public safety," he told reporters on Tuesday. The Palestine Action Group vows to fight police in court, saying it would defend NSW citizens' right to protest. Its spokesman Josh Lees earlier accused NSW Premier Chris Minns of interfering in police operations, after state leader spoke out against the protest saying he "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". Mr Lees said the group had lodged the application on Saturday in compliance with the required one-week notice for a demonstration. "If the government's position was that they need an extra week or two to plan this event, then of course we would welcome that," he said. Mr McKenna said he understood arguments that the bridge had been closed before special events including World Pride, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marched in 2023, and the upcoming Sydney marathon. "You need to understand months and months of planning goes into that," he said. "We don't just put a cone down, blow a whistle and say 'you're right to cross'." Closing the bridge would cause major disruption for thousands of drivers and emergency services, Mr McKenna said. "We do not get into the politics of it, we get into the public safety of it," he said. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has spoken out against the protest, as has the Police Association of NSW. "The combination of protesters and vehicles travelling at those speeds is a recipe for disaster and a risk that this organisation cannot expose our members to," police union president Kevin Morton said in a statement. The action group had said more than 50,000 people were expected to attend the protest. The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed during the war in Gaza is nearing 60,000 people, according to local health authorities, while dozens of people are reported to have died in recent days due to starvation. Israel's military campaign began after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation in Australia, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages. The bridge has previously been shut for separate demonstrations, including the 2000 march for reconciliation which attracted more than 250,000 people and a film production. Police will seek to block plans for activists to march across an iconic Australian landmark calling for more political action on the war in Gaza. Thousands of people were expected to join the march organised by the Palestine Action Group across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday. But NSW Police Acting Commissioner Peter McKenna confirmed the force had decided not to allow the protest and would apply to the Supreme Court to categorise it as unlawful and unauthorised. "The main rationale behind that is quite clearly public safety," he told reporters on Tuesday. The Palestine Action Group vows to fight police in court, saying it would defend NSW citizens' right to protest. Its spokesman Josh Lees earlier accused NSW Premier Chris Minns of interfering in police operations, after state leader spoke out against the protest saying he "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". Mr Lees said the group had lodged the application on Saturday in compliance with the required one-week notice for a demonstration. "If the government's position was that they need an extra week or two to plan this event, then of course we would welcome that," he said. Mr McKenna said he understood arguments that the bridge had been closed before special events including World Pride, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marched in 2023, and the upcoming Sydney marathon. "You need to understand months and months of planning goes into that," he said. "We don't just put a cone down, blow a whistle and say 'you're right to cross'." Closing the bridge would cause major disruption for thousands of drivers and emergency services, Mr McKenna said. "We do not get into the politics of it, we get into the public safety of it," he said. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has spoken out against the protest, as has the Police Association of NSW. "The combination of protesters and vehicles travelling at those speeds is a recipe for disaster and a risk that this organisation cannot expose our members to," police union president Kevin Morton said in a statement. The action group had said more than 50,000 people were expected to attend the protest. The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed during the war in Gaza is nearing 60,000 people, according to local health authorities, while dozens of people are reported to have died in recent days due to starvation. Israel's military campaign began after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation in Australia, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages. The bridge has previously been shut for separate demonstrations, including the 2000 march for reconciliation which attracted more than 250,000 people and a film production. Police will seek to block plans for activists to march across an iconic Australian landmark calling for more political action on the war in Gaza. Thousands of people were expected to join the march organised by the Palestine Action Group across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday. But NSW Police Acting Commissioner Peter McKenna confirmed the force had decided not to allow the protest and would apply to the Supreme Court to categorise it as unlawful and unauthorised. "The main rationale behind that is quite clearly public safety," he told reporters on Tuesday. The Palestine Action Group vows to fight police in court, saying it would defend NSW citizens' right to protest. Its spokesman Josh Lees earlier accused NSW Premier Chris Minns of interfering in police operations, after state leader spoke out against the protest saying he "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". Mr Lees said the group had lodged the application on Saturday in compliance with the required one-week notice for a demonstration. "If the government's position was that they need an extra week or two to plan this event, then of course we would welcome that," he said. Mr McKenna said he understood arguments that the bridge had been closed before special events including World Pride, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marched in 2023, and the upcoming Sydney marathon. "You need to understand months and months of planning goes into that," he said. "We don't just put a cone down, blow a whistle and say 'you're right to cross'." Closing the bridge would cause major disruption for thousands of drivers and emergency services, Mr McKenna said. "We do not get into the politics of it, we get into the public safety of it," he said. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has spoken out against the protest, as has the Police Association of NSW. "The combination of protesters and vehicles travelling at those speeds is a recipe for disaster and a risk that this organisation cannot expose our members to," police union president Kevin Morton said in a statement. The action group had said more than 50,000 people were expected to attend the protest. The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed during the war in Gaza is nearing 60,000 people, according to local health authorities, while dozens of people are reported to have died in recent days due to starvation. Israel's military campaign began after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation in Australia, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages. The bridge has previously been shut for separate demonstrations, including the 2000 march for reconciliation which attracted more than 250,000 people and a film production. Police will seek to block plans for activists to march across an iconic Australian landmark calling for more political action on the war in Gaza. Thousands of people were expected to join the march organised by the Palestine Action Group across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday. But NSW Police Acting Commissioner Peter McKenna confirmed the force had decided not to allow the protest and would apply to the Supreme Court to categorise it as unlawful and unauthorised. "The main rationale behind that is quite clearly public safety," he told reporters on Tuesday. The Palestine Action Group vows to fight police in court, saying it would defend NSW citizens' right to protest. Its spokesman Josh Lees earlier accused NSW Premier Chris Minns of interfering in police operations, after state leader spoke out against the protest saying he "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". Mr Lees said the group had lodged the application on Saturday in compliance with the required one-week notice for a demonstration. "If the government's position was that they need an extra week or two to plan this event, then of course we would welcome that," he said. Mr McKenna said he understood arguments that the bridge had been closed before special events including World Pride, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marched in 2023, and the upcoming Sydney marathon. "You need to understand months and months of planning goes into that," he said. "We don't just put a cone down, blow a whistle and say 'you're right to cross'." Closing the bridge would cause major disruption for thousands of drivers and emergency services, Mr McKenna said. "We do not get into the politics of it, we get into the public safety of it," he said. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has spoken out against the protest, as has the Police Association of NSW. "The combination of protesters and vehicles travelling at those speeds is a recipe for disaster and a risk that this organisation cannot expose our members to," police union president Kevin Morton said in a statement. The action group had said more than 50,000 people were expected to attend the protest. The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed during the war in Gaza is nearing 60,000 people, according to local health authorities, while dozens of people are reported to have died in recent days due to starvation. Israel's military campaign began after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation in Australia, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages. The bridge has previously been shut for separate demonstrations, including the 2000 march for reconciliation which attracted more than 250,000 people and a film production.
Perth Now
26 minutes ago
- Perth Now
A smile, though endometriosis is no laughing matter
Cara Walker was all smiles when she met Anthony Albanese, but as a woman living with endometriosis, she knows the strain that comes with managing a chronic condition. Labor is preparing to introduce legislation to parliament this week which will cap the cost of prescriptions on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to $25 from $31.60 from 2026. Ahead of the bill being presented to the lower house, the prime minister and Health Minister Mark Butler on Tuesday hosted a group of women impacted by endometriosis to discuss the changes. Endometriosis is a disease which tissue grows outside of the uterus, often causing severe pain. Labor amended and made new listings for contraception, endometriosis and IVF on the PBS ahead of the federal election campaign this year. Ms Walker told Mr Albanese chopping and changing between medications to manage chronic conditions quickly added up and was a hit to the hip pocket. "For people who don't have chronic conditions, all of a sudden they could get a cancer diagnosis, something could happen, and that puts a lot of strain on families, so that helps ease that strain, and every little bit counts," she said. Labor made health a centrepiece of its election campaign, pledging $8.5 billion to strengthen Medicare in a bid to make nine out of 10 visits to the GP free by 2030. Pressed during Question Time about bulk billing rates, Mr Albanese pulled out a Medicare card, as he had often done on the campaign trail. "The timeline hasn't changed, the investment is unchanged, the modelling is the same," the prime minister said. Mr Butler also clarified the figures around expected uptake of an expanded bulk billing incentive following criticism rates would take years to improve. But the health minister defended the government's modelling which expects fully bulk-billed practices to rise from about a quarter to three. Mr Butler said about 23 per cent of practices were expected to continue mixed billing, meaning pensioners and kids would be bulk-billed while others might be charged a gap fee. Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said people going to the doctor were paying out of pocket costs higher than what they had ever been. "Right the way through the election campaign, the prime minister waving around his Medicare card and telling Australians and I quote, 'All you'll need is your Medicare card, not your credit card,' was actually misleading the Australian public about the reality that is currently our health care system at the moment," she told ABC's RN.
Sky News AU
26 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
‘Intimidate and keep away': TV host slams planned Sydney Harbour Bridge pro-Palestine protest
Sky News host Chris Kenny slams plans for a pro-Palestine march to take place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 'So, the pro-Palestinian mob, the anti-Israel mob want to march across the Sydney Harbour bridge,' Mr Kenny said. 'And while a pride march in Gaza would almost certainly end in death at the hands of the Hamas Islamist extremists, this sort of march is a legacy that the pro-Palestinian mob are keen to leverage now. 'Yep, unity is the last thing this protest would foster. "The protesters were there to intimidate and keep away, grieving Jewish Australians.'
