11 May 2024

Labor’s support for this resolution is a betrayal of their history and our Australian tradition.

It was Labor’s Dr Evatt who championed the founding of the modern State of Israel. It was Labor leaders such as Bob Hawke and Kim Beazley who demonstrated a values based approach to Australia’s foreign policy.

They recognised, as the Coalition does, that Australia’s foreign policy is based on western values. 

Maybe it shouldn’t surprise us that a government that doesn’t have the strength to stop the threatening of Jewish students on Australian campuses, doesn’t have the same strength to articulate western values abroad.

The decision reflects a lack of strength and clarity on Australia’s foreign policy.

It marks the end of bipartisan support for Israel.

It seems Labor is more concerned about the politics of Grayndler than the realities of terror on the ground in Gaza.

This will embolden the leaders of anti-Semitic protests in Australia, and it will dishearten our allies abroad. 

ENDS