2025-10-10
Over a thousand Canberrans have signed a petition, co-sponsored by Andrew Braddock ACT Greens MLA, spokesperson for Anti-Racism and Multiculturalism and the Palestine Action Group Canberra. It is calling on the ACT Government to withdraw taxpayers' money from companies complicit in human rights abuses, ahead of the Nationwide March for Palestine this Sunday.
This powerful petition has also been endorsed by the Canberra Palestine and Climate Justice, ANU academics, and Amnesty International, demands the ACT Government uphold its international legal obligations by divesting from companies complicit in Israel’s genocide, occupation and apartheid.
“How long must a genocide happen before Labor divests from the perpetrator?” asked Andrew Braddock MLA.
“Labor needs to wake up to the thousands of Canberrans who are angry and distraught at what their local government is funding.”
Over 60 multinational companies have been documented as complicit in supporting Israel’s military occupation and settlement expansion by UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese. Some of these include Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Airbnb and many more.
“The average Canberran would be highly distressed that their hard-earned money is being used to support Israel’s illegal military occupation and settlement expansion in Palestine,” Mr Braddock said.
“It’s been more than 18 months since I called on the government to divest from companies the UN had listed as complicit in Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories, and we’re still waiting.”
Dr Tamara Kayali Browne from ACT Activism Leadership Committee at Amnesty International says, “It’s outrageous that our tax money is being used to fund the economy of genocide. And there is no excuse for failing to meet our legal obligations. The ACT government should be moving heaven and Earth to make sure we do.”
“Divestment from companies funding this genocide is the bare minimum. It is a powerful signal that our taxpayer dollars will not be used to slaughter hundreds of thousands of people,” Mr Braddock said.
“The tide is turning and Labor knows it. It’s beyond time they stepped up to the plate, listened to their voters and joined the overwhelming movement of people who don’t want their government to aid and assist genocide.”
Canberra will come together Sunday the 12th of October in Civic Square to mark the two-year anniversary of Gaza’s genocide.
The petition remains open until Tuesday 21 October.
ENDS