Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

And what a disgrace to say that it was attention seeking by Senator Faruqi for herself rather than the issue of starving women, children and men in Palestine. That says more about Senator Wong than it does about Senator Faruqi.

Over the last three days, ordinary people—parents, grandparents and young people from around the country—have been converging on Parliament House to demand Australia take urgent action to bring pressure to bear on the Netanyahu government and end the genocide in Gaza, and it's because of the pressure of those incredible human rights warriors around the country that the government is slowly, ever so slowly, moving and that the Prime Minister has made some positive movements towards calling out Israel. We do welcome Australia's signing onto that latest international joint statement, but words aren't going to feed people, and they're not enough to stop the genocide of the Netanyahu government. So we must continue to speak the truth, and we will, and we cannot be afraid of it.

Everyone in this place must now admit that, with starvation, this is a crime of genocide. Senator Faruqi was peacefully pointing out the truth. Gaza is starving. The stories that are coming of starvation and hunger are devastating, and yet, almost two years into this conflict and this ongoing genocide, the most that the government can manage is some more stern words and some signatures. Letters are not going to feed the starving children in Gaza, and letters are not going to stop the genocide. The government must immediately intervene. They must coordinate direct aid into Gaza. They must sanction the Netanyahu government. They must end the sale of the bomb door parts into that region. This is the bare minimum that they should be doing.

What they shouldn't be doing is disciplining anyone who dares to speak out, who dares to speak the truth, either in this place or anywhere else. The very idea that we are discussing disciplining Senator Faruqi for holding up a piece of paper, raising attention to the plight of those starving in Gaza, whilst completely ignoring the fact that One Nation senators turn their backs on the welcome to country, only proves how out of touch with ordinary people this place is. So I want to acknowledge everyone who is being honest about the genocide in Gaza, including the staunch and courageous Senator Faruqi, and I want to acknowledge everyone who is calling on this government to do more. I want to salute the hearts of all those people who've been at the front of the building these last few days, demanding action from our government. I want to recognise the academics, students, journalists and artists who have refused to remain silent despite the great personal cost that it has taken. The Greens will not be silent.