Government motion on Palestine passes despite Greens and Coalition opposition to specifics
The government’s numbers passed the motion, while the Greens and Coalition voted against it.
Labor MPs immediately launched into a social media blitz about how the Greens had voted with the opposition.
The Greens have just teamed up with the Liberals to vote against a motion to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution and a just and enduring peace. pic.twitter.com/RHIRcBLZ5E
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) July 3, 2024
Key events
Anthony Albanese’s speech mentioned his phone call with Julian Assange, which occurred the moment Assange touched down in Canberra last week. It was pre-arranged that Albanese would be the first person to speak to Assange as he arrived in Australia, and the phone call was heavily criticised by the opposition, who claimed it undermined the Australia-US alliance (it did not).
Albanese told the ball that Assange had told him the experience was long and he wondered if it would ever end.
Albanese quipped that happily, though, Assange’s flight with Kevin Rudd and Stephen Smith did come to an end.
As if he hasn’t suffered enough,” Albanese said.
Amy Remeikis
Amy’s on: last night’s midwinter ball (the political side)
After all that, the MPs headed to the midwinter ball.
The ball is hosted by the press gallery and is invite only, so MPs need to have a media organisation, or an organisation that has been able to purchase tickets, invite them to sit on their table. It all goes to charity.
The press gallery journalist of the year is crowned and the leaders of both parties give a speech towards the end of the night, which is meant to be a bit jokey in style (you may remember reports of Malcolm Turnbull doing an impression of then-US president Donald Trump); the entertainment comes on and about an hour later everyone is kicked out.
The event is off the record, and people who attend undertake that they won’t be reporting on what is said in the room. There has been growing discomfort over the ball, given the gallery is meant to hold the people they are reporting on to account.
I do not attend. I have been in previous years when I first started in the gallery and very quickly came to the conclusion I prefer the [former nine political editor] Laurie Oakes school of thought – don’t attend and keep reporting.
It is rare that anything truly newsworthy occurs, but I’ll drop in a run down of what I have learned.
Government motion on Palestine passes despite Greens and Coalition opposition to specifics
The government’s numbers passed the motion, while the Greens and Coalition voted against it.
Labor MPs immediately launched into a social media blitz about how the Greens had voted with the opposition.
The Greens have just teamed up with the Liberals to vote against a motion to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution and a just and enduring peace. pic.twitter.com/RHIRcBLZ5E
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) July 3, 2024
Allegra Spender has concerns Labor motion on Palestine ‘not actually achiving anything’
Wentworth independent Allegra Spender said she supported a two-state solution, but did not support the motion.
What I am concerned about in this motion and in every motion that we have had on this issue in the House is that we are not actually achieving anything in terms of the difference it will make to the people in the conflict right now, when we all desperately want the UN-endorsed security council’s peace resolution and for parties to come to that agreement.
That is what I am seeking right now, that’s what I care about, and I’m concerned this motion does nothing to that. All it does is tear our community even further apart.
… It is tearing my community apart. They feel very, very strongly and are desperately concerned. I am concerned that this just inflames tension without adding anything to what we are really all seeking, which is actually a long and standing peace.
I want to speak for my community, who are desperately saddened and appalled by what has happened overseas but are also extremely concerned about what is happening here. Once again, I just worry that we continue to inflame this in this place.
We do not unite or move forward, and I do not support what the Greens have been saying at all throughout this time, but I think there was an opportunity for the rest of the parliament to unite on something that was appropriate.
Max Chandler-Mather: Senator Payman has faced more sanctions from Labor than Israel
Max Chandler-Mather continued:
And how is it that when a Labor senator, Senator Payman, who had the principles and the courage to cross the floor to vote with the Greens to immediately recognise Palestine, faces more sanctions than Labor has dished out against Israel?
That is remarkable.
I think what today is about is that Senator Payman has demonstrated the political cowardice in this place from Labor members.
How is it that Senator Payman had the courage to cross the floor and vote to immediately recognise Palestine but no member of Labor in this place has the guts to do that?
That is what people will remember in 10 or 20 years’ time when asked the question: what did members in this please do when Israel was carrying out a massacre in Gaza? Let’s be clear about this. The UN has found that Israel is carrying out war crimes.
The UN has put Israel on a blacklist of countries that kill children, in this case Palestinian children. The government all of a sudden apparently care. They are not doing anything about politics and say this is above politics. If it was above politics they would take material action right now to put pressure on Israel to stop.
Greens MP on Labor motion on Palestine: ‘What peace process?’
Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather spoke immediately after Josh Burns on the same motion. He said the government had failed to take actions against Israel, but had the power to do so.
It could sanction Israel. Why is it this government could sanction Russia for the war crimes carried out by Russia but refuses to sanction Israel?
They could expel the Israeli ambassador. Let’s be very clear about this. If the government were true to their word and cared about the Palestinian people they would take actions against Israel to stop the genocide and the invasion. That is what they would do.
Let’s be very, very clear about this. Every time Israel [carries] out a massacre, every time Israel kills Palestinian men, women and children and look around the world it does not receive a single sanction to stop. They are emboldened and they keep acting.
‘As part of a peace process’, this motion is a joke. What peace process? Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza. It is not a peace process. Why is it 146 countries could find it in their hearts to recognise Palestine right now?
Why is it the Australian government refuses?
Josh Burns says Labor motion to recognise Palestine as part of the peace process is ‘the bare minimum’
Josh Burns finished with:
This motion before the House is the bare minimum. It says that we support the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of a peace process. That peace process is something that I hold onto and that I have held onto my entire life.
That peace process says that we are all people, above all, and that there has to be a way through this. There has to be a way through this conflict. I wish that we could pull a lever here in Australia and it would all end today, but we have seen time and time again that that is not the case.
What we can also control is how we engage and more moments like what the member for Chifley just did, where he doesn’t seek to enforce his views but actually gives the opportunity for someone else to speak.
In this moment, it’s me, and I really appreciate it.
We need to see people in Australia looking and having conversations, not just sitting on your phone and reinforcing your own views.
Reach across and have a discussion with someone who may not agree with you, because this conflict is not a licence to divide our community. This conflict is about people. It is about two peoples who deserve to live in dignity and peace, because that is what we want in the region.
That is what we want for the people of Israel, and that is what we want for the Palestinian people. I’ll finish where I started. I dream of peace. I dream of peace between two peoples, and I hope desperately to see it one day.
Josh Burns on Palestine: ‘I desperately want to see an end to the violence’
Josh Burns continued:
There are so many intractable parts of this conflict. I have a degree in this conflict, and I still don’t quite know how to fix it.
I know that there are players who are desperate to end the peace process and to try and disturb any efforts towards peace. I know that trees take years and years and years to grow and can be cut down in a second, and that is what the Middle East has demonstrated over and over again.
We have seen people try to grow a tree, to try and build this sense of togetherness and unity between two peoples, and yet time and time again it has been cut down in an instant of violence, and it has been cut down by politics where you either have players like Hamas or players that have taken over the far-right of Israeli politics that are desperate to demonise the other people.
It is sad because it means that in this place we see a conflict continuing in 2024.
I desperately want to see an end to the violence. I desperately want to see the people of Gaza being able to rebuild their lives in dignity and in peace, to move freely, to have freedom of speech and to have a future for their children. What human doesn’t want that for another human?
I desperately want to see my family and friends in Israel live within safe and secure borders, not worried about who might interrupt them in their own home. I don’t think that’s too high a bar to set.
I don’t think that we in Australia can dream of anything more than peace between the two peoples.
House debates Labor motion on Palestine
Last night, the chamber also debated Labor’s motion which was put forward by Tim Watts:
That this House endorses the government’s position to support the recognition of the state of Palestine as part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution and a just and enduring peace.
This is the motion that Labor tried to move in the senate, after the Greens put forward a motion that the senate recognise the state of Palestine. Fatima Payman crossed the floor to support the Greens motion.
Ed Husic gave his speaking spot on the motion to his colleague Josh Burns, who publicly thanked him:
I really appreciate his generosity in this moment. I don’t think it’s worth dismissing that a Muslim member of this place gave his speaking spot to a Jewish member of this place so that I could contribute to this debate. I want to thank my friend for his generosity in this moment.
Burns spoke out against Australia supporting the UN vote in May which called for the Palestinian authority to be given full member status in the UN. It was non-binding, but Burns said Australia’s vote was a “miscalculation” and said it should have abstained. He has also called for a ceasefire.
His electorate posters have been targeted for vandalism and his office was vandalised last month.
In the motion debate last night, Burns said he “dream[s] of peace”.
I dream of peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. It has been something that has haunted my family for generations. We have seen year after year and war after war completely destroy and damage people and communities, and for what?
We still in 2024 are facing an intractable conflict between two peoples, most of whom just want to live in peace and in dignity. And we see that here in Australia. I know that most people here in our wonderful country just want to see more peaceful days ahead. In this country, our hearts break.
I think that’s something that we all can hold onto. There is a shared humanity that we must all uphold. It is okay to look at the violence that is facing the Palestinian people and feel a deep sense of loss and sadness at that and to want that to end today. And it is okay to see the absolutely devastating scenes that we saw on October 7, a day that saw the largest loss of Jewish life on any day since the Holocaust.
My heart breaks for both, and I say that as a Jewish Australian who desperately wants to see this war come to an end.
Daily Telegraph says Australia spoke to Israel’s ambassador on Lebanon
The Daily Telegraph is reporting Australia called in Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, almost two weeks ago, to say Israel could not rely on Australia’s support if it goes to war in southern Lebanon.
The assistant foreign affairs minister, Tim Watts, delivered the message to Maimon.
A government spokesperson said Australia government ministers, assistant ministers and Dfat officials “regularly meet with members of the diplomatic corps”.
The assistant minister expressed Australia’s concern about the risk of regional escalation, and continued civilian casualties.
“Calling in” is the diplomatic term to describe official action in diplomatic actions – there is a lot which happens behind the scenes and is done diplomat-to-diplomat. Calling in is the traditional way a host country expresses a strong message.
Ambassadors and diplomats are required to report back to their home country’s government in official terms.
Fatima Payman expected to make announcement today as calls for Palestinian recognition within Labor grow
Anthony Albanese said in question time yesterday he was expecting to hear ‘some more announcements’ from Fatima Payman in the coming days. There is speculation that will happen today (as it is the last day of parliament for six or so weeks), but meanwhile, pressure is growing for Labor to recognise Palestine within Labor branches as well.
Doug Cameron is a former NSW Labor senator.
Not one voice raised in the Labor caucus in support of growing R&F calls to
recognise Palestine without tying it to the non existent “peace process “.
We all want peace. Recognition is seen by many nations as a step towards it,
What has happened to courage in caucus debate?— Doug Cameron (@DougCameron51) July 3, 2024
Good morning
Amy Remeikis
Hello and welcome to the last sitting day ahead of the winter break – after today, the parliament will rise and not sit again until 12 August.
Thank you to Martin for starting us off today. It’s a four-coffee morning, along with a little sweet treat I think. We deserve it.
Still, lots to get through today, so let’s get into it.
Conditions slightly improving for renters
Rents in most major cities are either falling, stalling or growing at a slower pace, Australian Associated Press reports.
Low vacancy rates have pushed advertised rents higher for several months running but the latest report from real estate platform Domain shows conditions improving for renters.
Asking rents for houses fell 1.8% in Hobart in the June quarter and held steady in Sydney and Perth, the report found.
Several other cities recorded slower rates of growth over the three months, with the pace of quarterly growth 1.5 times slower than the previous quarter across the combined capitals.
Similarly for units, the the pace of growth was halved across the combined capitals in the June quarter from the three months prior.
Domain’s chief of research and economics, Nicola Powell, said rental market conditions would likely continue to ease, given vacancy rates were moving higher.
“The number of prospective tenants per rental listing has consistently fallen throughout 2024,” Powell said.
This reflected overseas migration likely passing its peak, she said.
Lidia Thorpe expresses support for Palestine at Midwinter Ball
The Greens-turned-independent senator Lidia Thorpe wore a white dress emblazoned with the contentious phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” at Parliament House on Wednesday night, AAP reports.
In early June, Labor voted with the Coalition in the Senate to condemn the phrase as some view it to be calling for the abolition of Israel. She also carried a bag with “love harder” on it [see below].
In another fashion statement on the night, Labor frontbencher Anne Aly was spotted with “end violence against women” on her jacket after a recent spate of high-profile deaths.
Labor MP Josh Burns stepped out with Victorian state MP Georgie Purcell for their first public appearance as a couple.
The parliamentary press gallery’s annual midwinter ball features politicians and company bosses coming together to network, celebrate journalism and raise money for charity.
The press gallery journalist of the year award was given to Nine News’ Andrew Probyn, the third time he has won. Judges praised his news scoops that “weren’t handed to him on a plate”.
Politicians out in force for Midwinter Ball
It is Canberra’s big night and here are some of the best photographs from the event, including Lidia Thorpe’s backing for Palestine and Anne Aly’s plea to tackle domestic violence.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and before my colleague Amy Remeikis comes along I’ve got a few of our best overnight stories to run through.
Our top story this morning is an investigation that shows some older Australians have been left “dumbfounded” by the huge payouts they had to make to a home equity release scheme after they sold their homes. Guardian Australia’s investigation into Homesafe has found that customers as old as 89 have signed up to deals that experts have warned are “opaque” and “obtuse”.
The Fatima Payman story took a fresh twist last night when a Labor branch in Anthony Albanese’s own electorate passed a motion expressing support for the dissident senator. Labor members in Leichhardt – which is within the prime minister’s Sydney electorate of Grayndler – passed a motion at a scheduled meeting on Wednesday night saying that it “expresses its solidarity with Senator Fatima Payman” and that it shared her “strong support for Palestine”. Even so, expectations are growing that she is poised to quit the party.
Last night’s Midwinter Ball was a chance for the political class to put weightier concerns to one side and get dressed up. Having said that, the serious messaging does get combined with the dressing up and this year Lidia Thorpe took the opportunity to express support for Palestine with a dress embroidered with the controversial slogan “from the river to the sea”. More frocks and tuxes coming up.