Bipartisan condemnation of Greens’ involvement in pro-Palestinian protests

The government and the opposition have joined together in parliament to condemn Greens members’ involvement in pro-Palestinian protests, accusing the party of inflaming tensions of social cohesion.

The Israel-Gaza war began after Israel launched an air and ground offensive in Gaza in response to Hamas’s October 7 attacks which killed 1,200 people and took a number of hostages. About 120 hostages remain in Gaza.

The Israeli military campaign has killed more than 36,000 people in Gaza, including 7,797 children.

A large number of Australians have marched in support of Gaza and Palestinians every Sunday ever since the war began, and protests and demonstrations have continued through that time, including university encampments and sit-ins at parliament members’ offices.

Recently, doors at a Labor conference venue in Melbourne were locked after pro-Palestinian union members and activists got past security and began yelling at delegates and speakers.

Labor Minister Ged Kearney was hosting an event in her electorate last month and had to be escorted out by police. It is alleged the Victorian state Greens candidate for Northcote was at the protest.

The prime minister and opposition leader used Question Time on Wednesday to make lengthy statements, accusing the Greens of not taking strong enough action to condemn the behaviour of protesters. The prime minister said the protests were “anti-democratic” and undermined the causes they purport to advance.

“Enough is enough,” Anthony Albanese said.

“The time for senators and members of parliament to continue to attend and inflame tension outside these offices must end.

“I’ve supported justice for Palestinians my whole life and still do. It is tragic that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people are undermined by some people engaging in activity that completely alienates the Australian public due to the nature of that.”

He also accused Greens MPs and senators of spreading misinformation about the war, including what he described as knowingly misrepresenting motions moved in the parliament. The Greens recently moved a motion to recognise the state of Palestine, which the government and Coalition voted against.

The opposition leader said there was a bipartisan position in calling on the Greens to not condone the acts of protests.

“We’re seeing now the offices of elected members of parliament being targeted with red paint with vile messages of hate and discrimination and anti-Semitism and the Greens should condemn it instead of condoning it,” Peter Dutton said.

‘Greens won’t be lectured about peace’

Greens Leader Adam Bandt was originally told he would be unable to respond on a point of indulgence, as House of Representatives rules would not allow it. Mr Bandt then responded.

“This house is united in condemning anti-Semitism and condemning Islamophobia,” he said.

“I will not be lectured to about peace and non-violence by people who back the invasion of Gaza.

“Children are dying because the Israeli army has engineered a famine and instead of talking about the victims, the prime minister wants to make it about himself.”

Later in a statement, the Greens leader said the government was desperately trying to distract from their continued backing of Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

“Labor and Liberal abused Question Time to defend the invasion of Gaza and shut down any debate about Labor’s ongoing refusal to recognise Palestine, stop the two-way arms trade with Israel and call for a permanent ceasefire,” he said.

“People want a permanent ceasefire now, and as a party of non-violence that has repeatedly called for any protests to be peaceful, the Greens won’t be lectured about peace by a prime minister that backs the horrific invasion of Gaza.”

ABC