Latest news with #MehreenFaruqi
CTV News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Australia's Parliament resumes with pro-Palestinian protests and calls for Israel sanctions
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi holds a placard as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese walks in the Senate chamber for the opening of the 48th Federal Parliament at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP) MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia's Parliament resumed Tuesday for the first time since the center-left Labor Party won one of the nation's largest-ever majorities in the May elections. The day was largely ceremonial, with reminders of conflict in the Middle East. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside Parliament House on Tuesday, calling for the government to impose sanctions on Israel after Australia joined another 27 countries in issuing a joint statement, saying the war in Gaza 'must end now.' Security guards prevented 15 demonstrators from entering the public gallery of the Senate while Attorney-General Sam Mostyn, who represents Australia's head of state King Charles III, was giving a speech to lawmakers on Tuesday afternoon, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. But Sen. Mehreen Faruqi, deputy leader of the minor party Australian Greens, made a silent protest by holding up a sign in the chamber during Mostyn's speech that said: 'Gaza is starving, words won't feed them, sanction Israel.' Australia has imposed financial and travel sanctions on individual Israelis, including government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. But the Australian government has not imposed wider sanctions on the state. Joint statement sparks debate Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke described the joint statement as the strongest words his government had used on the conflict in Gaza. 'When you can make a statement together with so many other significant powers, then we're all hoping that there'll be something that will break this,' Burke told ABC. 'What we are watching on the other side of the world is indefensible. The hostages still need to be released, but the war needs to end,' Burke added. But senior opposition lawmaker Jonathon Duniam described Australia joining 27 other nations in signing the statement as 'alarming.' 'There is more to this issue than this letter betrays and I think it is a sad turn of events for our government to have joined with other countries in signing this letter,' Duniam said. Australia's 48th Parliament was opened with Indigenous ceremonies in Parliament House on a day that was otherwise steeped in centuries of British Westminster political tradition. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked the traditional owners of the national capital, Canberra, at a Welcome to Country ceremony. He noted that such ceremonies performed by Indigenous people to welcome visitors to their traditional land at the start of a new parliament had been introduced by a Labor government in 2007. 'In the 48th Parliament, we write the next chapter. Let us do it with the same sense of grace and courage that First Nations people show us with their leadership,' Albanese said. Biggest Australian government majority since 1996 Labor won 94 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, where governments are formed. Labor's majority is the largest since Prime Minister John Howard's conservative coalition won 94 seats in 1996, when the lower chamber had only 148 seats. Howard stayed in power for almost 12 years, and Albanese is the first prime minister since then to lead a party to consecutive election victories, following an extraordinary era of political instability. The main opposition Liberal Party has elected its first woman leader, Sussan Ley, after one of the party's worst election results on record. Her conservative coalition holds 43 seats in the House, while independent lawmakers and minor parties that are not aligned with either the government or opposition hold 13. No party holds a majority in the 76-seat Senate. Labor holds 29 seats and the conservatives 27 seats. The Australian Greens hold 10 seats, which is the next largest bloc. The government will likely prefer to negotiate with the conservatives or Greens to get legislation through the Senate, rather than deal with multiple minor parties and independents. Rod Mcguirk, The Associated Press
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Parliament opening marred by ‘infantile' Faruqi demonstration
Liberal Senator Dave Sharma discusses Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi's 'infantile' stunt performed during the governor general's opening address. 'I thought it was infantile, it was a stunt … maybe even high schooler in nature,' Mr Sharma told Sky News host Steve Price. 'For her, to try and upstage an important occasion in Australia's democratic system, the opening address by the governor general. 'It shows a great disrespect for Australian institutions and Australian democratic norms.'
SBS Australia
6 hours ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
Mehreen Faruqi stages Senate protest, asks Albanese: 'Will you sanction Israel?'
Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi held up a sign calling for sanctions against Israel and questioned the prime minister during an address marking the return of parliament. It comes after Australia condemned the "inhumane killing" of Palestinians in Gaza while calling for Israel to end its war in a joint statement, which a Labor frontbencher called it the strongest statement the government has made in the near two-year offensive. As part of a largely ceremonial return on Tuesday, Governor-General Sam Mostyn delivered an address to both houses in the Senate chamber, declaring the 48th parliament open. More than a dozen pro-Palestinian demonstrators were detained after protesting inside the foyer of parliament during Mostyn's speech, before being removed from the building. Hundreds of protesters called for sanctions on Israel on the lawns of parliament, with one woman arrested, federal police say. Traffic around Parliament House was also disrupted by the protests. During her address, Faruqi was pictured holding a sign that read: "Gaza is starving. Words won't feed them. Sanction Israel." As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese left the Senate, the Greens senator called out: "Prime minister, Gaza is starving, will you sanction Israel?" Later speaking on the ABC's Afternoon Briefing program, Science and Industry Minister Tim Ayres said he thought Faruqi's actions were "disrespectful to the parliament". "Parliamentary institutions, the ceremonies and the way that today has unfolded actually is important for the dignity of the institution," he said. "I think she has diminished herself," Ayres went on to say. "The institution is pretty robust but we've all got a responsibility to think about the way we participate in the institution and in public debate and in civic debate to lift the country up to get more people engaged. "I don't think that's served that purpose very well and I don't think it assisted the cause of Palestinians in Gaza one little bit." Australia calls for Gaza war's end A joint statement signed by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and more than 20 of her global counterparts — including from the United Kingdom, France, and Canada— calls for an immediate end to Israel's violence in the strip and condemns the denial of humanitarian assistance to starving Palestinians. The United States was not a signatory. Israel's foreign ministry rejected the statement, saying it is: "disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas" — the Palestinian political and militant group that governs Gaza. The joint statement came as pro-Palestinian supporters rallied in Canberra on Tuesday for the first sitting day of parliament since the May federal election. The countries condemned what they called the "drip feeding of aid" to Palestinians in Gaza and said it was "horrifying" that more than 800 civilians had been killed while seeking aid, which they labelled "inhumane". The majority of those killed were in the vicinity of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites, which the US and Israel backed to take over aid distribution in Gaza from a network led by the United Nations. "The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity," the countries' foreign ministers said in a joint statement. "The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths." They said: "The war in Gaza must end now." In its statement criticising the statement, Israel's foreign ministry said: "The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognise Hamas's role and responsibility for the situation." Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar later said he spoke with his British counterpart David Lammy on Monday regarding regional issues, including Gaza. He blamed Hamas "for the suffering of the population and the continuation of the war". The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, called the statement "disgusting" and said blaming Israel was "irrational" because Hamas rejects every proposal to end the war. Last week, following a call with Pope Leo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement saying he had told the pontiff that Israel's efforts to secure a hostage release deal and 60-day ceasefire, "have so far not been reciprocated by Hamas". It came as Hamas' armed wing spokesperson Abu Ubaida said the group favoured reaching an interim truce in the Gaza war, but if that could not be made in negotiations, it could revert to insisting on a full package deal to end the conflict. Hamas has repeatedly offered to release all the hostages held in Gaza and conclude a permanent ceasefire agreement, and Israel has refused, Ubaida said. Hamas says any agreement must lead to ending the war, while Netanyahu says the war will only end once Hamas is disarmed and its leaders expelled from Gaza. 'So much of this is indefensible' Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was asked on ABC News Breakfast on Tuesday whether this was the strongest statement Australia had issued since the conflict escalated on 7 October 2023. "It would be," Burke said. "There's been a series of very strong statements that we've made. What we've been making sure of is that whenever we make a statement of this nature that we're bringing as many other countries along with us at the same time." LISTEN TO SBS News 21/07/2025 01:16 English Burke said the hostages captured by Hamas on October 7 must be released, but the "slaughter" in Gaza "has to end". "We've seen too many images of children being killed, of horrific slaughter, of churches being bombed," Burke said. "The images that we've seen have been pretty clear that so much of this is indefensible and, as that statement referred to, aid being drip-fed in." Opposition leader Sussan Ley did not say whether or not she supported the joint letter. While Ley wanted "to see aid reach those who deserve it", she said the most "important thing" was rescuing the remaining hostages. Save The Children estimates between 50,000 and 80,000 Palestinian people are sheltering in Deir al-Balah. Source: Getty / Dawoud Abo Alkas While some of the hostages have been released, others have died and about 50 are believed to still be in captivity — although Israel believes about half of those are dead. Opposition frontbencher Jonathon Duniam said Israel had a "right to self defence" and said Australia signing the joint statement was not the right approach. "There is more to this issue than this letter portrays and I think it is a sad turn of events for our government to have joined with other countries in signing this letter," he told Sky News. Much of Gaza has been reduced to a wasteland during more than 21 months of the conflict that escalated when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, with the latest deaths reported on Monday as Israel began a new incursion in central Gaza. — With reporting by the Australian Associated Press and Reuters news agencies
Arab News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Australia's Parliament resumes with pro-Palestinian protests and calls for Israel sanctions
MELBOURNE, Australia: Australia's Parliament resumed Tuesday for the first time since the center-left Labour Party won one of the nation's largest-ever majorities in the May elections. The day was largely ceremonial, with reminders of conflict in the Middle East. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside Parliament House on Tuesday, calling for the government to impose sanctions on Israel after Australia joined another 27 countries in issuing a joint statement, saying the war in Gaza 'must end now.' Security guards prevented 15 demonstrators from entering the public gallery of the Senate while Attorney-General Sam Mostyn, who represents Australia's head of state King Charles III, was giving a speech to lawmakers on Tuesday afternoon, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. But Sen. Mehreen Faruqi, deputy leader of the minor party Australian Greens, made a silent protest by holding up a sign in the chamber during Mostyn's speech that said: 'Gaza is starving, words won't feed them, sanction Israel.' Australia has imposed financial and travel sanctions on individual Israelis, including government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. But the Australian government has not imposed wider sanctions on the state. Joint statement sparks debate Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke described the joint statement as the strongest words his government had used on the conflict in Gaza. 'When you can make a statement together with so many other significant powers, then we're all hoping that there'll be something that will break this,' Burke told ABC. 'What we are watching on the other side of the world is indefensible. The hostages still need to be released, but the war needs to end,' Burke added. But senior opposition lawmaker Jonathon Duniam described Australia joining 27 other nations in signing the statement as 'alarming.' 'There is more to this issue than this letter betrays and I think it is a sad turn of events for our government to have joined with other countries in signing this letter,' Duniam said. Australia's 48th Parliament was opened with Indigenous ceremonies in Parliament House on a day that was otherwise steeped in centuries of British Westminster political tradition. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked the traditional owners of the national capital, Canberra, at a Welcome to Country ceremony. He noted that such ceremonies performed by Indigenous people to welcome visitors to their traditional land at the start of a new parliament had been introduced by a Labor government in 2007. 'In the 48th Parliament, we write the next chapter. Let us do it with the same sense of grace and courage that First Nations people show us with their leadership,' Albanese said. Biggest Australian government majority since 1996 Labor won 94 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, where governments are formed. Labor's majority is the largest since Prime Minister John Howard's conservative coalition won 94 seats in 1996, when the lower chamber had only 148 seats. Howard stayed in power for almost 12 years, and Albanese is the first prime minister since then to lead a party to consecutive election victories, following an extraordinary era of political instability. The main opposition Liberal Party has elected its first woman leader, Sussan Ley, after one of the party's worst election results on record. Her conservative coalition holds 43 seats in the House, while independent lawmakers and minor parties that are not aligned with either the government or opposition hold 13. No party holds a majority in the 76-seat Senate. Labor holds 29 seats and the conservatives 27 seats. The Australian Greens hold 10 seats, which is the next largest bloc. The government will likely prefer to negotiate with the conservatives or Greens to get legislation through the Senate, rather than deal with multiple minor parties and independents.
The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Protests take over from pageantry as parliament returns
Pomp and ceremony were on full display as MPs gathered in Canberra for the opening of federal parliament. But as formal traditions dating back hundreds of years played out at Parliament House, protests called for action on conflict in the Middle East. During Governor-General Sam Mostyn's speech laying out the priorities for the three years ahead, more than a dozen pro-Palestinian demonstrators were detained after protesting inside the foyer of parliament, before being removed from the building. Hundreds of protesters called for sanctions on Israel on the lawns of parliament, with one woman arrested, federal police say. Traffic around Parliament House was also disrupted by the protests. As the governor-general read her speech, Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi held a silent protest by holding a sign that read: "Gaza is starving. Words won't feed them. Sanction Israel". Ms Mostyn said cost-of-living relief would be high on the agenda for the next term. "(Voters) re-elected a government that will continue building on the foundation of its first term, upholding the values of fairness, aspiration and opportunity," the governor-general told the upper house. "The government will work to repay the trust Australians have placed in it." The day began with an ecumenical service at a Wesley Uniting Church, with the prime minister promising to get down to business quickly. "Every day is an opportunity to deliver for Australians and this week we will have legislation to do that," he told reporters outside the church. "We'll continue to work hard each and every day in the interest of Australians." Mr Albanese will command a large majority in his second term as leader, with Labor holding 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives. The size of the majority was on display on the floor of parliament for the first time since the election, with Labor MPs sitting on both sides of the aisle in the lower house. Across the chamber, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley presides over just 43 lower-house MPs after an election wipeout for the coalition. "We got smashed at the last election and the number of seats that we now hold is a demonstration that we are at a low point," Ms Ley said. "But we're here to work hard, we're here to put the interests of the Australian people that we come here to represent front and centre. "And we know that aspiration connects every single thread of Australian society." After a ceremonial welcome to country and smoking ceremony on the forecourt of Parliament House, MPs and senators were sworn in one-by-one at their respective chambers. Business soon turned to the election of a speaker for the House of Representatives. Labor MP Milton Dick was re-elected to the role with bipartisan support before being ceremonially dragged to the speaker's chair by MPs. The prime minister said Mr Dick would continue to conduct the role with "fairness, with humour and with intellect". The returning speaker said it was a "profound honour" to carry on in the position. "My view is the role of speaker is not one of partisanship, but of stewardship, and it's my solemn responsibility to ensure that democracy is not only practised here, but it's strengthened here," Mr Dick said. In the Senate, Sue Lines was re-elected as president of the chamber, but not before One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's surprise nomination of political rival David Pocock for the position. The independent ACT senator declined the nomination. After Tuesday's ceremonial opening, formal business begins on Wednesday with legislation including for a 20 per cent reduction in HECS debt for students. Pomp and ceremony were on full display as MPs gathered in Canberra for the opening of federal parliament. But as formal traditions dating back hundreds of years played out at Parliament House, protests called for action on conflict in the Middle East. During Governor-General Sam Mostyn's speech laying out the priorities for the three years ahead, more than a dozen pro-Palestinian demonstrators were detained after protesting inside the foyer of parliament, before being removed from the building. Hundreds of protesters called for sanctions on Israel on the lawns of parliament, with one woman arrested, federal police say. Traffic around Parliament House was also disrupted by the protests. As the governor-general read her speech, Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi held a silent protest by holding a sign that read: "Gaza is starving. Words won't feed them. Sanction Israel". Ms Mostyn said cost-of-living relief would be high on the agenda for the next term. "(Voters) re-elected a government that will continue building on the foundation of its first term, upholding the values of fairness, aspiration and opportunity," the governor-general told the upper house. "The government will work to repay the trust Australians have placed in it." The day began with an ecumenical service at a Wesley Uniting Church, with the prime minister promising to get down to business quickly. "Every day is an opportunity to deliver for Australians and this week we will have legislation to do that," he told reporters outside the church. "We'll continue to work hard each and every day in the interest of Australians." Mr Albanese will command a large majority in his second term as leader, with Labor holding 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives. The size of the majority was on display on the floor of parliament for the first time since the election, with Labor MPs sitting on both sides of the aisle in the lower house. Across the chamber, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley presides over just 43 lower-house MPs after an election wipeout for the coalition. "We got smashed at the last election and the number of seats that we now hold is a demonstration that we are at a low point," Ms Ley said. "But we're here to work hard, we're here to put the interests of the Australian people that we come here to represent front and centre. "And we know that aspiration connects every single thread of Australian society." After a ceremonial welcome to country and smoking ceremony on the forecourt of Parliament House, MPs and senators were sworn in one-by-one at their respective chambers. Business soon turned to the election of a speaker for the House of Representatives. Labor MP Milton Dick was re-elected to the role with bipartisan support before being ceremonially dragged to the speaker's chair by MPs. The prime minister said Mr Dick would continue to conduct the role with "fairness, with humour and with intellect". The returning speaker said it was a "profound honour" to carry on in the position. "My view is the role of speaker is not one of partisanship, but of stewardship, and it's my solemn responsibility to ensure that democracy is not only practised here, but it's strengthened here," Mr Dick said. In the Senate, Sue Lines was re-elected as president of the chamber, but not before One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's surprise nomination of political rival David Pocock for the position. The independent ACT senator declined the nomination. After Tuesday's ceremonial opening, formal business begins on Wednesday with legislation including for a 20 per cent reduction in HECS debt for students. Pomp and ceremony were on full display as MPs gathered in Canberra for the opening of federal parliament. But as formal traditions dating back hundreds of years played out at Parliament House, protests called for action on conflict in the Middle East. During Governor-General Sam Mostyn's speech laying out the priorities for the three years ahead, more than a dozen pro-Palestinian demonstrators were detained after protesting inside the foyer of parliament, before being removed from the building. Hundreds of protesters called for sanctions on Israel on the lawns of parliament, with one woman arrested, federal police say. Traffic around Parliament House was also disrupted by the protests. As the governor-general read her speech, Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi held a silent protest by holding a sign that read: "Gaza is starving. Words won't feed them. Sanction Israel". Ms Mostyn said cost-of-living relief would be high on the agenda for the next term. "(Voters) re-elected a government that will continue building on the foundation of its first term, upholding the values of fairness, aspiration and opportunity," the governor-general told the upper house. "The government will work to repay the trust Australians have placed in it." The day began with an ecumenical service at a Wesley Uniting Church, with the prime minister promising to get down to business quickly. "Every day is an opportunity to deliver for Australians and this week we will have legislation to do that," he told reporters outside the church. "We'll continue to work hard each and every day in the interest of Australians." Mr Albanese will command a large majority in his second term as leader, with Labor holding 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives. The size of the majority was on display on the floor of parliament for the first time since the election, with Labor MPs sitting on both sides of the aisle in the lower house. Across the chamber, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley presides over just 43 lower-house MPs after an election wipeout for the coalition. "We got smashed at the last election and the number of seats that we now hold is a demonstration that we are at a low point," Ms Ley said. "But we're here to work hard, we're here to put the interests of the Australian people that we come here to represent front and centre. "And we know that aspiration connects every single thread of Australian society." After a ceremonial welcome to country and smoking ceremony on the forecourt of Parliament House, MPs and senators were sworn in one-by-one at their respective chambers. Business soon turned to the election of a speaker for the House of Representatives. Labor MP Milton Dick was re-elected to the role with bipartisan support before being ceremonially dragged to the speaker's chair by MPs. The prime minister said Mr Dick would continue to conduct the role with "fairness, with humour and with intellect". The returning speaker said it was a "profound honour" to carry on in the position. "My view is the role of speaker is not one of partisanship, but of stewardship, and it's my solemn responsibility to ensure that democracy is not only practised here, but it's strengthened here," Mr Dick said. In the Senate, Sue Lines was re-elected as president of the chamber, but not before One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's surprise nomination of political rival David Pocock for the position. The independent ACT senator declined the nomination. After Tuesday's ceremonial opening, formal business begins on Wednesday with legislation including for a 20 per cent reduction in HECS debt for students. Pomp and ceremony were on full display as MPs gathered in Canberra for the opening of federal parliament. But as formal traditions dating back hundreds of years played out at Parliament House, protests called for action on conflict in the Middle East. During Governor-General Sam Mostyn's speech laying out the priorities for the three years ahead, more than a dozen pro-Palestinian demonstrators were detained after protesting inside the foyer of parliament, before being removed from the building. Hundreds of protesters called for sanctions on Israel on the lawns of parliament, with one woman arrested, federal police say. Traffic around Parliament House was also disrupted by the protests. As the governor-general read her speech, Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi held a silent protest by holding a sign that read: "Gaza is starving. Words won't feed them. Sanction Israel". Ms Mostyn said cost-of-living relief would be high on the agenda for the next term. "(Voters) re-elected a government that will continue building on the foundation of its first term, upholding the values of fairness, aspiration and opportunity," the governor-general told the upper house. "The government will work to repay the trust Australians have placed in it." The day began with an ecumenical service at a Wesley Uniting Church, with the prime minister promising to get down to business quickly. "Every day is an opportunity to deliver for Australians and this week we will have legislation to do that," he told reporters outside the church. "We'll continue to work hard each and every day in the interest of Australians." Mr Albanese will command a large majority in his second term as leader, with Labor holding 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives. The size of the majority was on display on the floor of parliament for the first time since the election, with Labor MPs sitting on both sides of the aisle in the lower house. Across the chamber, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley presides over just 43 lower-house MPs after an election wipeout for the coalition. "We got smashed at the last election and the number of seats that we now hold is a demonstration that we are at a low point," Ms Ley said. "But we're here to work hard, we're here to put the interests of the Australian people that we come here to represent front and centre. "And we know that aspiration connects every single thread of Australian society." After a ceremonial welcome to country and smoking ceremony on the forecourt of Parliament House, MPs and senators were sworn in one-by-one at their respective chambers. Business soon turned to the election of a speaker for the House of Representatives. Labor MP Milton Dick was re-elected to the role with bipartisan support before being ceremonially dragged to the speaker's chair by MPs. The prime minister said Mr Dick would continue to conduct the role with "fairness, with humour and with intellect". The returning speaker said it was a "profound honour" to carry on in the position. "My view is the role of speaker is not one of partisanship, but of stewardship, and it's my solemn responsibility to ensure that democracy is not only practised here, but it's strengthened here," Mr Dick said. In the Senate, Sue Lines was re-elected as president of the chamber, but not before One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's surprise nomination of political rival David Pocock for the position. The independent ACT senator declined the nomination. After Tuesday's ceremonial opening, formal business begins on Wednesday with legislation including for a 20 per cent reduction in HECS debt for students.
