Albanese and Wong Bring Shame on Australia

Overnight in the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Australian Government voted in support of a resolution which would grant Palestine full member status. This vote comes just seven months after the Palestinian Hamas regime perpetrated the worst massacre of Jewish people since World War II, on October 7, 2023.

Australia had a long-held and public commitment to a two-state solution through a direct, negotiated and lasting peace settlement. That commitment was trashed overnight by the Albanese Government.

Membership of the UN General Assembly as a recognised State requires the support of 2/3 of member states, preceded by a recommendation for admission from the UN Security Council – over which the US has consistently and recently exercised its veto power.

Former Political Advisor to the Australian Mission at the UN General Assembly, and long-serving member of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Andrew Wallace MP, condemned the Federal Government for voting in support of the proposal.

Mr Wallace insisted that through its decision to support Palestine with full member status, Prime Minister Albanese and Foreign Minister Wong have rewarded Hamas for its grievous atrocities perpetrated on Israelis on October 7, including mass murder, torture, rape and sexual violence, and the taking of around 250 hostages, 139 of whom remain in captivity.

Mr Wallace argued that Australia’s vote overnight has now put it at odds with its closest allies and neighbours including, the United States, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Palau and the State of Israel, all of whom voted against the proposal.

“Overnight, the Albanese Government have delivered a sharp slap in the face to Israel and to Jewish Australians. They have abandoned Australia’s long-term commitment to a two-state solution through a direct, negotiated and lasting peace settlement. They have given legitimacy to a recognised and listed terrorist organisation. The hypocrisy of the Australian Government’s position now on Palestine and therefore Hamas, is as breathtaking as it is morally and ethically bankrupt,” Mr Wallace said.

“Even if the Australian Government could not have seen fit to vote against the proposal it could have abstained as other close allies did, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.” Mr Wallace continued.

“This is yet another example of the Prime Minister speaking out of both sides of his mouth. Last week, behind closed doors, the Prime Minister gave Jewish leaders in Australia the promise that he had their back, and that Australia’s Government would continue to support Israel. Today, Australia’s devastated Jewish communities will have Albanese’s hollow words ringing in their ears.”

Mr Wallace currently serves as the Deputy Chair of Parliament’s powerful intelligence and security committee, visited Israel in 2023 in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre. He is also the Chair of the Australia-Israel Allies Caucus, which is part of a global alliance of parliamentarians dedicated to combatting antisemitism, promoting interfaith dialogue, and supporting positive trade and relations with the State of Israel.