MP's big issue with Albo's Palestine pledge

Perth Now

2 days ago

Anthony Albanese should have consulted the opposition before pledging to recognise Palestinian statehood next month, a Liberal frontbencher says.
The Prime Minister unleashed a firestorm when he declared his intention on Monday.
He has been both accused of 'rewarding terrorists' and praised for joining the global push to realise the rights of Palestinians.
Sussan Ley has criticised him for, in her view, bungling one of the biggest foreign policy challenges facing governments and vowed to reverse Palestinian recognition.
In the same breath, she has also lashed him for being 'fixated' on events abroad.
Though, with more than 100,000 marching across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in protest of the war in Gaza, it is a hot-button issue for Australians – especially the many with family ties in the region.
Senior opposition MP Tim Wilson on Sunday said it would have been 'sensible' to reach out to the Coalition and form a bipartisan position that could go beyond the government of the day. Opposition frontbencher Tim Wilson says Labor should have consulted the Coalition on Palestinian recognition. Martin Ollman / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia
'We've taken a long-term bipartisan position around a two-state solution based on a series of preconditions that we would expect in that - like the lasting security and respect for the state of Israel, like making sure Israeli hostages are returned, like making sure there isn't going to be Hamas running any government,' Mr Wilson told the ABC.
'Up until last Monday, that was also the position of the government.'
He said the Albanese government has 'thrown that into turmoil by making a commitment to recognise a Palestinian state but not being able to then say if those preconditions are going to be met'.
'There wasn't the engagement with the opposition up until this point,' Mr Wilson said.
'I would have thought that actually having an engagement with the opposition for a lasting policy position from the Australian government would be a sensible way forward.
'They've chosen not to take that path.'
When announcing his Palestine pledge, Mr Albanese outlined four 'commitments' he secured from Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The first two were Hamas having 'no role' in a future Palestinian state and the PA recognising 'Israel's right to exist in peace and security'. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly. Martin Ollman / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia
While Mr Albanese said Mr Abbas 'reaffirmed' his support for the second point, the PA administers the West Bank and has no presence in Gaza or over Hamas.
The PA itself is often criticised for its corruption, ineffectiveness and lack of elections.
The last presidential vote was in 2005.
It also faces accusations of supporting terrorism by paying families of 'martyrs' – Palestinians wounded or killed in flare-ups with Israel.
Mr Albanese said Mr Abbas also committed to scrapping the 'Martyrs Fund' as part of broader transparency reforms, demilitarising, and holding elections.
Both independent experts and the opposition have said it is impossible for these commitments to be fulfilled before the UN General Assembly, where Mr Albanese and several other Western leaders have vowed to recognise Palestine.