Victorian Labor party members to push for ‘immediate' federal recognition of a Palestinian state
It comes after Anthony Albanese on Sunday described civilian deaths in Gaza as 'indefensible' but reiterated he had no immediate plans to recognise a Palestinian state and insisted further steps were needed to reach a two-state solution.
Labor Friends of Palestine, an internal campaign group, will move three 'urgency resolutions' at the Victorian state conference on Saturday – the first major gathering of party members since May's federal election.
Sign up: AU Breaking News email
The motions call on the federal government to recognise a Palestinian state in this term of office, expand existing sanctions on two Israeli ministers to 'all executive members' of the Israeli government – including the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and end all direct and indirect military trade with Israel.
They also urge the government to abide by the international court of justice's 2024 ruling that Israel's occupation and settlement activity is unlawful by conducting a comprehensive public review of all 'military, economic and political' ties with Israel to ensure 'no Australian entities are providing aid or assistance … in the commission of unlawful acts'.
The motions also call for the protection of civil liberties, including the right to protest, in response to proposed Victorian laws and a plan by the antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal, to strip funding from universities and arts bodies that fail to address antisemitism.
They also demand the safe and unimpeded delivery of emergency humanitarian aid to Gaza, increased funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa) and the introduction of a permanent humanitarian visa and scholarship program.
The Victorian convenor of Labor Friends of Palestine, Oliver van Ingen, said the motions were the 'strongest Palestine resolutions ever brought to Victorian Labor'.
'There is a huge groundswell of support in the party and the broader community. Albanese is correct to call Israel's actions 'completely indefensible', and these actions must be met by a strong international response,' van Ingen said.
Guardian Australia understands the resolutions have been developed in consultation with supportive unions and are expected to pass. About 600 delegates – split evenly between party members and affiliated unions – will vote.
While non-binding on state or federal Labor MPs, they represent one of the most effective ways for rank-and-file members and unions to influence party policy.
At last year's state conference, six motions were passed calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas war, recognition of Palestinian statehood and for the Victorian government to scrap a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Israel's Ministry of Defence in 2022. The MoU was ultimately allowed to lapse, after sustained internal and public pressure.
A separate motion by Labor Friends of Palestine – calling for sanctions on the Netanyahu government and an end to military ties with Israel – has already been adopted by more than 80 branches across Australia since June, including 16 in Victoria.
The group joined former foreign minister Bob Carr and Labor MP Ed Husic on Friday in urging Albanese to follow France's example by pledging to recognise a Palestinian state.
Speaking on ABC's Insiders program on Sunday, Albanese said recognising a Palestinian state – a longstanding part of Labor's policy platform – was not imminent.
He citied concerns around ensuring Hamas would be excluded from any future state, how such a state would operate without threatening Israel's existence and what role the Palestinian Authority would play.
But van Ingen argued Palestine should be recognised 'as a matter of urgency' to 'guard against any further illegal reductions in their territory'.
'This decision cannot be contingent on a nonexistent peace process,' van Ingen said.
Labor Against War, another state movement within the party, will introduce motions urging the federal government to launch an independent parliamentary inquiry into Aukus and to remove references to the pact from the party's national platform.
Members have until Tuesday to submit proposed urgency resolutions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Jacinta Price reveals the little-known truth about the term 'First Nations' before being told off by Penny Wong
Indigenous senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price declared that 'First Nations' is not even an Australian term before being told off by Penny Wong in parliament. The firebrand Coalition politician was at the centre of a fiery row in the Senate after One Nation senators including Pauline Hanson turned their backs on the acknowledgement of country at the start of parliament last week. Senator Price objected to the ceremonies as a person of Indigenous heritage, claiming they did little to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians and were a form of 'political point-scoring'. It prompted Wong to urge the Coalition to 'respect' parliamentary traditions. 'I would hope that the Opposition would reflect on the words of their own leader in relation to Welcomes to Country,' the Labor Senate leader told the chamber. 'Decency and respect cost us nothing, but it goes a long way to building a sense of unity.' Before being told off by Wong, Senator Price also launched a blistering attack on the term 'First Nations'. 'First Nations isn't even Australian terminology, for crying out loud! It's been adopted from Canada, from America. It's just reinvention, which is actually belittling and watering down traditional culture and what it's really about. She also doubled down on her stance about Welcome to Country. 'Senator Hanson is correct to say that Welcome to Country is not traditional culture. It isn't. And what we do need to recognise is - and it is important for all of us, as leaders of this nation, to recognise - the reinvention of culture, which diminishes traditional culture. 'For those who still live close to traditional culture, within cultural confines, their day-to-day lives are dictated by it. 'They speak their language. They are often spoken about in very romanticised terms. And the use of acknowledgements really does absolutely nothing to improve their lives and has done nothing to improve their lives. 'To be quite honest, as a woman of Indigenous heritage but, first and foremost, as an Australian, I am absolutely done with the virtue signalling that takes place. I am of the belief that it is not necessary to have an acknowledgement, because we are all Australians. 'Every single one of us - including the Ngunnawal and the Ngambri - is Australian. We are here to serve all Australians equally in this country, not to praise or acknowledge one group above others. 'Truly, I don't think you really want to acknowledge my existence because of my indigeneity more than anybody else's. I am equal to you and to everybody else here and to everybody in this country. 'But we can ignore traditional culture in this chamber because there are elements of it in every single one of you across from here ignore, because it's detrimental to the most remote and marginalised communities. 'But if you speak up against it, if you mention it, you're painted as a racist or somebody who is a 'coconut', or somebody who is a traitor. 'Imagine if we treated every single racial group in this manner in this country. It's horrendous.' Senator Price didn't mince her words on what she thought of the politicisation of Indigenous Australians due to their racial heritage. 'I'm sick of death of it as a woman, mother, soon to be grandmother and as an Australian of proud heritage, whether it's my convict ancestors or it's my Warlpiri ancestors, I'm proud of it all and we should all be,' she said. Price was quickly inundated with widespread support. 'Thank you for speaking up for ALL Australians, Jacinta,' conservative political lobbyist group Advance Australia posted. A man added: 'Well said, we are all Australian irrespective of skin pigmentation, heritage, race or whether you believe in a deity or you don't. I hope this is replayed many, many times.' Another commented: 'Here's hoping that one day we can all be proud Australians and recognise past heritages and be thankful we live in an amazing country.' The speech also reignited calls for Price to lead the Coalition. 'Future Prime Minister of Australia,' one Aussie commented. The senator's fiery speech came after Opposition Senate Leader Michaelia Cash leapt to her defence and accused Wong of having 'sought to dismiss' Price's objection to the ceremonies. 'I will stand by and respect Senator Nampijinpa Price, who every day has lived and breathed reconciliation in this country - her father is white, her mother is black,' Cash said. 'Please don't ever come into this place again and pontificate to us like you've just done.'
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
UN urges Australia to step up climate action
SYDNEY, July 28 (Reuters) - The United Nations climate chief has called on Australia to set an ambitious 2035 emissions target and accelerate its clean energy transition, warning a failure to act risks eroding living standards and regional stability. Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, said Australia should "go for what's smart by going big". "Don't settle for what's easy. Bog standard is beneath you," he said at a Smart Energy Council event in Sydney. Australia faces scrutiny for backing new fossil fuel projects while seeking to co-host the UN COP31 climate summit with the Pacific next year. The centre-left Labor government, which took power in 2022 with a mandate to reduce carbon emissions, cleared the country's largest gas plant to run until 2070 in May – a decision that critics said called into question Australia's commitment to tackling climate change. Australia is also among the highest polluting countries per capita due to its coal power generation. Consultancy Wood Mackenzie has projected Australia is set to fall far short of its target of 82% renewable generation by 2030 due to state-level rollbacks, grid connection delays and inadequate investment. Stiell said the country's 2035 emissions reduction target, due in September, would be a 'defining moment' that could send a message that 'this country is open for clean investment, trade, and long-term partnerships'. Australia also had the opportunity to become a global leader in renewables and that 'doubling down on clean energy is an economic no-brainer', he said. He warned that a lack of action would erode living standards and destabilise Australia's neighbours in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, which were more susceptible to rising sea levels and extreme weather. 'This is the moment: to get behind a climate plan that doesn't just write that vision into policy – but delivers in spades for your people,' Stiell said.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Huge Native Title problem that's costing Aussies big as state deals with almost 40 claims - and one has lasted more than two decades
Queensland councils have desperately called on the government to provide financial support as they burn through ratepayers' money dealing with Native Title claims. Councils in the state are currently responding to 38 Native Title claims, with one contest for sea territory in the Torres Strait now running for 24 years. Redland City Council is at the forefront of calls for external funding after spending eight years responding to a Native Title claim over much of its coastline. While Native Titles don't affect freehold property - including residential houses and businesses - the council expressed confusion about the future of its properties. About 3,500 properties owned or managed by Redland City Council have been included in the Quandamooka Coast claim area. The Queensland Government assessed 1,300 of those properties and found 80 could be subject to the title claim, including an animal shelter and cemetery. However, the council has been lumped with the task of processing its remaining properties through the Federal Court to determine if they are eligible for Native Title claim. Typically, exclusion is given when public works - like roads, playgrounds, shelters - were built before December 23, 1996. Redland City Council did not own some of the contested properties before that date but has built parks, recreation areas, and infrastructure on them. The ongoing debate over the properties has already cost the council $2million and its legal bill will continue to grow with a four-week hearing scheduled in September. The council unsuccessfully asked the extended assessment be covered by the Queensland Government, noting 'having clarity over the history of the lots of land will ensure there are no legacy issues down the track'. Senator Pauline Hanson earlier this month called for the state government to take the pressure off small councils being hit with Native Title claim bills. 'While the claimants have their legal costs fully funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, Queensland councils had their support taken away long ago,' Hanson said. 'Queensland councils were acknowledged as among the best in responding to Native Title claims until Labor changed the Native Title Respondent Funding Scheme in 2013 and effectively put the cost burden on local ratepayers. 'The Albanese government has since abolished the scheme altogether. 'It's a burden that few, if any, regional Queensland councils can bear.' The Senator echoed the sentiment of councils around the state, saying the Native Title claims 'are often very complex and can take years to resolve, resulting in huge legal costs for respondents'. The Quandamooka Coast claim area includes a small part of Brisbane City, most of mainland Redlands and areas of Lamb Island, Macleay Island, Karragarra Island, Coochiemudlo Island, Cassim Island, Sandy Island, Tindappah Island, Green Island, King Island, St Helena Island and Mud Island. It is being overseen by the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, which in 2011 was granted Native Title over nearby North Stradbroke Island. Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer Alison Smith told the Courier Mail she supported calls for funding to be reinstated. 'Local governments are automatically joined as respondents when a Native Title claim affecting the local government area is lodged in the Federal Court,' she said. 'It is critical that the Commonwealth reinstates the Financial Assistance Scheme so local governments are able to access funding to participate in the claim process.' Local Government Minister Ann Leahy wouldn't comment on funding for Native Title claims, instead pointing to decreased 'red tape'. 'While Labor walked away from supporting councils for a decade, the Crisafulli government is helping reduce red tape and costs to ensure they can deliver for their communities,' she said.
