'Fighting for fair is in my blood': Ali France's poignant first speech as Labor MP
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Australian-Palestinian MP says his people are always made to be ‘strangers in their own homes'
The newly elected MP Basem Abdo has told parliament in his first speech the government should make a 'historic commitment' to international law, human rights and peace, saying Palestinians are always 'made to be strangers in their own homes'. Abdo, who is of Palestinian background, has spoken of his family's journey from Kuwait to Jordan during the first Gulf War before settling in Australia, telling parliament of the 'intergenerational dispossession' of Palestinians. Coming soon after the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, had told parliament of his distress at seeing images from Gaza, Abdo's speech did not explicitly mention Israel's military campaign in the occupied territory, but it carried unmistakeable references to the growing humanitarian crisis. 'International law matters. The international rules-based order matters,' Abdo said on Monday night. 'Human rights matter. The right to peace, justice and recognition matters. Deserving of an historic commitment.' Abdo was born in Kuwait, before his parents fled as refugees to Jordan. He was a staffer to the former Calwell MP Maria Vamvakinou, one of Labor's most outspoken voices on Palestine, before being preselected and ultimately prevailing in the most complex preference count the Australian Electoral Commission has ever conducted. Abdo told parliament of what he called the 'quiet chaos' as his parents escaped Kuwait. 'We were held up at the border because the number plates on the vehicles had to be changed. Through the night, we waited in the barren desert along the Jordanian border for the new plates to be sent from the capital,' he said. 'Because that's what war looks like too – not just tanks and fear, but paperwork, approvals, and delays. The administrative burdens and the never-ending weight of bureaucracy – even in war.' Speaking about taking refuge in Jordan, Abdo recounted taping up their apartment windows with gaffer tape. 'We walked with our parents down a path that belonged to a people always forced to leave for the next place,' he said. 'Our story of intergenerational dispossession – again, and always once more - never with any certainty that this would, finally, be the last time. No matter how much we contributed to the countries we lived in and where we almost always excelled. No matter how long our families had called a place home. We belonged to a people who were always the first to be made strangers in their own homes – simply because we were Palestinian.' Asked in question time about whether the government would recognise a Palestinian state, Albanese raised alarm again about the 'humanitarian catastrophe' in Gaza as civilians are killed and starve. He said recognition of statehood must be 'more than a gesture', repeating conditions about advancing a lasting peace with Israel, but said Australia was 'in discussions with other countries as well going forward'. Abdo's speech praised Calwell as 'one of the most diverse communities in the country – and one of the proudest', promising to 'stand in solidarity with those communities that often feel excluded from the Australian story'. 'Our multicultural Australia is a remarkable achievement – and it's our responsibility in this place to protect it so the promise of a fair go is real for all.' Abdo's speech went on to outline his commitment to local manufacturing and jobs, speaking of disruption and dispossession coming from political decisions like social neglect and economic exclusion. He spoke sadly about his parents struggling to find work in Australia, despite qualifications from overseas, and the collapse of manufacturing in his outer Melbourne electorate. 'Too often it is working people who feel the first shock, who shoulder the greatest burden, who get the least support to recover and rebuild,' he said.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Recognising Palestine would not reward Hamas, says Cabinet minister
Recognising Palestine would not 'reward' Hamas, a Cabinet minister has said. Last week, Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Emmanuel Macron would 'reward terror' after he announced that France will recognise Palestine within weeks. But on Monday Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, said the Israeli prime minister was wrong and insisted formal Palestinian statehood must form part of a long-term peace process in the region. It comes as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to recall his Cabinet from its summer break for an emergency meeting on the war as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen. In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Reynolds was asked whether he agreed that immediate recognition would act as a reward for Hamas. He said: 'No, I think that is not the right way to characterise it. I think we all recognise that both Israelis and Palestinians require a two-state solution. No matter how difficult that is, that requires a state to exist on both sides. 'This conflict has clearly been going on for a very long period of time. But the scale of the horrific scenes we are seeing, we've surely got to use this as a moment to move forward on a two-state solution and that is how we want to use recognition.' Mr Macron said formally acknowledging Palestine would contribute to a 'just and lasting peace' in the Middle East. Risk of 'another Iranian proxy' But rebuking his decision hours later, Mr Netanyahu said: 'We strongly condemn President Macron's decision to recognise a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre. 'Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became.' The French president's remarks were also condemned by the White House although Donald Trump, his US counterpart, later said that it 'doesn't matter' what Mr Macron has to say. Sir Keir will press Mr Trump on whether more can be done to end the Gaza conflict at a meeting in Scotland on Monday. But his urging for securing a ceasefire raises the risk of a clash with the US president, who is staunchly opposed to recognition on the grounds that Hamas does not want peace. It emerged on Monday that Sir Keir is preparing to recall his Cabinet despite the summer recess to hold emergency talks on war as aid charities and campaigners warn the humanitarian crisis is worse than ever. Sir Keir has to date resisted calls to follow France by immediately recognising Palestine but is facing pressure from Cabinet ministers including Angela Rayner, his deputy, to do so. A third of Labour MPs signed a letter on Friday saying it was time for 'immediate recognition', a policy move that Ms Rayner is understood to '100 per cent' support. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, are also understood to be in favour of such a move. Bloomberg reported last week that Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, also wants to see Palestine recognised straight away, a view that is said to be shared by Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary. Peter Kyle, the Science Secretary, said during a broadcast round last week he was 'deeply, deeply offended' by Israel's actions and was 'desperate' to see Palestine fully recognised. Labour infighting costly at the polls Labour has already been punished by Muslim and Left-wing voters at the ballot box over its initial refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire after the Oct 7 attacks. Five independent MPs were elected at the last general election on a pro-Gaza ticket including Jeremy Corbyn, Sir Keir's predecessor who now sits as an independent MP. Mr Corbyn and Zarah Sultana recently announced the launch of a new hard-Left party to fight Labour nationally. The pair have repeatedly accused Israel of committing 'genocide'. It comes after Sir Keir's tone and language towards Israel hardened significantly in recent weeks. The Prime Minister vowed over the weekend that the UK would evacuate children who required emergency medical aid from Gaza as he condemned a 'humanitarian catastrophe'. He has also said the situation in the region is 'untenable' and repeatedly demands Mr Netanyahu commit to an immediate ceasefire, as well as to delivering aid to the region. In a joint statement issued after a phone call on Friday evening, Mr Macron, Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor, and Sir Keir said the 'appalling scenes in Gaza are unrelenting'. They also appeared to criticise Israel over the 'starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people'.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
‘A huge human cost': Labor criticised over delays to aged care reforms as waitlist grows
Labor is facing a backlash over aged care services as a delay to landmark reforms prompts calls for urgent funding for 20,000 additional home packages and warnings that a two-speed system is locking out poorer elderly people. The Albanese government lost its first parliamentary vote of the new term on Monday afternoon, when the Senate voted to establish an inquiry into delays for home care packages, including unmet needs and the wellbeing of seniors waiting for assistance. Proposed by the ACT independent David Pocock, the vote was supported by the Greens and the Coalition, and comes after the aged care minister, Sam Rae, rejected calls to bring forward an additional 20,000 home care packages. Labor's reforms to the sector, originally slated to come into force from 1 July, have been pushed back to November, delaying the release of more than 80,000 home care packages. More than 87,000 elderly people are on the waitlist for care at home, with wait times up to 15 months. Labor has promised an end to lengthy delays by 2027, with maximum wait times of 90 days. Sign up: AU Breaking News email 'There is a huge human cost to delaying the release of more home care packages,' Pocock said. 'For some people that means being stuck in hospital longer because they can't get the support they need to return home safely. For others it means entering residential aged care earlier than they otherwise would have, others are struggling at home without the help they need.' The push follows warnings from the sector that Labor's changes risk squeezing out elderly people with limited financial means. Tracey Burton, chief executive of Uniting NSW and ACT, told Guardian Australia early this month equitable access for poorer Australians remains an unmet promise of changes passed by parliament last year. After a royal commission and a taskforce report to the federal government, Labor introduced new rules requiring wealthier people to pay more for their care and boosting access to support services for people who choose to stay in their own home. Residents who can afford to pay for their own care do so using a payment known as a refundable accommodation deposit (RAD). The average RAD is $470,000, with the lump sum refunded to family members when a resident dies. Elderly people whose care is paid for by the government rely on a supported accommodation supplement, worth $70 per day. The Greens aged care spokesperson, Penny Allman-Payne, is set to chair the Senate inquiry. She said the difference in value between RADs and supported placements, combined with a shortage of available residential beds and a rationing of home care packages, has led to fears of a two-tier system. 'You shouldn't have to be a millionaire just to guarantee care in your old age, but that's exactly what's at risk from Labor's new aged care system. 'Far from fixing the residential aged care system, Labor's changes coming this November mean wealthier homeowners may soon be worth twice as much in revenue to an aged care facility as an older person who lives week to week.' In a letter to crossbench MPs, Rae said the government acknowledged high demand for home care places, and said it was expected to continue up to November. But he rebuffed calls for bringing forward extra places. 'We also recognise that waiting to access a [home care package] has a real impact on older people and their families, as well as on the care providers. 'The Support at Home program is designed to bring down wait times for care and deliver more tailored support, giving older people the flexibility and choice to stay at home for longer.' Demand for aged care services is expected to surge, with the country on track for a doubling of people over 65 and a tripling of those aged over 85 within 40 years.
