The Greens have stormed out of Senate question time to protest what they say is Albanese government inaction over the conflict in Gaza.
The Greens deputy leader, Mehreen Faruqi, led the boycott declaring that Labor’s “weasel words are not going to stop war crimes” by Israel and shouting “free, free Palestine” with her fist raised.
The boycott came after Faruqi asked the trade minister, Don Farrell, about Australia “shamefully” abstaining from a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire. The Albanese government had done so arguing the motion was “incomplete” because it did not mention Hamas as the perpetrator of the 7 October attack.
In the Senate, Faruqi wore a black and white keffiyeh over her shoulders, accusing Israel of “carpet bombing Gaza, targeting civilians, and committing war crimes for the whole world to see”, including killing almost 10,000 Palestinians.
Farrell said the government had “affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself after that horrific attack”, but noted that the foreign minister, Penny Wong, had argued it “mattered” how Israel exercises its right to self-defence, and it must abide by international law.
The Greens senator David Shoebridge interjected that it is not doing so.
Farrell said that “innocent civilians should not pay for the horrors perpetrated by Hamas” and it matters for “Israel’s own security”, echoing comments Wong made in an opinion piece for Guardian Australia.
Faruqi used a supplementary question to accuse the Coalition of being “morally bankrupt” on Palestine while Labor are “heartless, gutless cowards”.
“You are watching the massacre of thousands of Palestinians by Israel, and you are not condemning Israel, you refuse to call for an immediate ceasefire,” she said.
“We are not going to sit here and watch you pat yourselves on the back for doing absolutely nothing. Weasel words are not going to stop war crimes.
“Today we bring the people’s protest into parliament – free, free Palestine,” she said, with fist raised.
The Greens’ 11 senators then exited the chamber in unison, while senator Janet Rice held a printed Palestinian flag.
Farrell told the Senate he “completely rejects” the allegations Faruqi had made, describing the Israeli military action in Gaza and Palestine as the “consequences” of the “unjustified, illegal” Hamas attacks.
Farrell criticised political parties for “making hay” over the difficult situation, saying this would not “advance the position in Australia”.
Faruqi later told reporters it was “disgraceful” and “despicable” of Farrell to frame the Greens’ calls for a ceasefire as a “political play”.
Wong has consistently called for restraint when it comes to protection of civilian life, modest statements that have still come under partisan attack from the Coalition opposition.
Pressure has been mounting within Labor to do more to call out Israel’s reprisals, with two senior frontbench ministers labelling them collective punishment.
On Saturday Wong called for a renewed international effort to find a two-state solution to end the cycle of violence in the Middle East, arguing that Israel can only find peace and security if it can do the same for Palestinians.
“Like Australia, Israel is a democratic nation state, pledged to the rule of law,” Wong wrote in Guardian Australia.
“The standards democracies seek and accept are high. That means Israel must observe international law and the rules of war.
“So when Israel’s friends urge Israel to exercise restraint and protect civilian lives, it is critical that Israel listens.
“It matters for innocent civilians, who should not pay for horrors perpetrated by Hamas. And it matters for Israel’s own security, which faces grave risk if conflict spreads. The international community will not accept ongoing civilian deaths.”
