TIME FOR LABOR TO SHOW LEADERSHIP
BY ADAM BANDT
Leader of the Australian Greens
It’s been 6 weeks since the atrocities began to unfold in the Middle East.
The Greens mourn the over 1,200 Israelis who lost their lives on October 7 and join the calls for the immediate release of all hostages.
We also mourn the 13,000 people - over 5,000 of them children - that have been killed in Gaza since the state of Israel’s invasion and bombardment.
Around the country, week after week, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in the biggest peace protests since the war in Iraq, calling for an end to the Israeli government's invasion of Gaza.
These people are part of some of the peace protests around the world, millions of people taking to the streets to call for a ceasefire.
The General Assembly of the United Nations has voted for a ceasefire, and international aid groups from around the world have called for a ceasefire too.
But despite the destruction and devastation, the Albanese Labor government has refused to do the same.
It’s no small thing to call out a government for committing a war crime, but that’s what international human rights experts at the UN are saying about what the Israeli government is doing right now to people in Gaza.
They are being denied fuel, water and food. They are being bombed. This is collective punishment of a people.
Reports this week of a temporary truce are welcome news, and so is the release of 50 hostages and many political prisoners, but the invasion of Gaza must not just start again in a few days.
The Greens have been calling on Labor to join the call for a ceasefire, but instead Labor has backed the invasion from day one, and has kept on backing it. The Greens left in protest during Senate Question Time because Labor continues to back the invasion even as the human horrors continue to unfold.
Last week in Parliament, I moved to table over 116,000 signatures in Parliament, all calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
We need to join the majority of countries around the world who are calling for a ceasefire.
We also urge the Albanese Labor Government to stop providing military equipment to the Israeli Government.
This year alone, the Albanese Government has provided 52 military export permits to the Israeli Government and over 350 since 2017. It was also discovered that once weapons leave our shores no part of the Government monitors their use or abuse.
This is unacceptable. We should not be supplying equipment that could be used for war crimes.
The Greens oppose Australia’s weapons export system, which is one of the most secretive and unaccountable in the world, with the Government providing military equipment to some of the world's worst violators of human rights, including Saudi Arabia, Sudan, the UAE and Israel.
The lack of transparency and accountability is of concern as the Israeli Government’s attacks on Gaza have killed thousands of civilians and put hospitals, schools and civilian infrastructure under siege in what amounts to collective punishment and war crimes.
And as we make these calls to stop the invasion, release remaining hostages and end the occupation of the Palestinian Territories, we also support our local Jewish, Palestinian and Muslim communities, because there is no place for Islamophobia or antisemitism in our country.
It's now time for Labor to show leadership.
Halt military exports to the Israeli government. Push for a ceasefire and an end to the occupation. Back a just and lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis based on self-determination in accordance with international law.
The Greens will continue to push the Labor Government to listen and act for peace, for all.