Parliamentary Updates

29 July 2025

For some nearly two years now, my community in Warringah has been deeply distressed by the events occurring in Israel and Palestine. I've heard about the ongoing frustration and feeling of powerlessness in the face of the inability of the international community to achieve a lasting ceasefire, a release of all hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid to innocent civilians. We've heard many calls from the government to not bring the conflict onto Australian soil—tearing at our social cohesion and bringing about horrendous rises in antisemitism in our communities. But, unfortunately, the conflict has arrived in Australia through our phones, our screens, the news, the devastating loss of civilian lives and the apparent targeting of hospitals and humanitarian aid. It must be possible to both stand up for international human rights and fight antisemitism in Australia.

The government's recent statement calling out the breaches of international law has been welcomed, but words need to translate into action. Australia must consider the implications of continuing major trading relations with a country whose actions appear in direct breach of international law and continue to block essential aid to innocent civilians. I've previously written to Minister Wong addressing questions that have been asked by constituents, including whether the government will consider taking further measures, including targeted trade or other sanctions, against the nation of Israel. Economic isolation was effective in helping bring about the end to apartheid in South Africa, and in other nations in other conflicts, and should be on the table. There is a live question: due to its continued actions against the Palestinian people, is Israel a nation with whom we should be having extensive trading relations?

However, I want to make really clear that the actions of Israel must not be conflated with and attributed to Jewish Australians. I stand with the Australian Jewish community and will continue to advocate for their safety and wellbeing, ensuring that all Australians feel they are valued as part of our multicultural and social fabric. Like all forms of racism in our community, there is no place for antisemitism or any form of hate in Australia. The antisemitism plan proposed by the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jill Segal, has, unfortunately, raised concerns within the community, especially on the definition of 'antisemitism', concerns relating to freedom of speech and criticism of the actions of another nation. I support a unified approach to combating racism—one that builds social cohesion, not division, and that combats the underlying drivers of community tensions, including global conflicts and Australia's response to them.

I call on the government to implement a unified approach that unifies all Australians, to implement the Race Discrimination Commissioner's National Anti-Racism Framework and to lead with boldness and courage.