David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Next week this government is going to be providing the red carpet for a man who incited genocide, and the genocide isn't over; it's continuing today. During the so-called ceasefire, Israeli defence force attacks have killed over 500 people and injured more than 1,300 others, all while Isaac Herzog has been in power. I can't believe I have to say this: when someone is accused by the United Nations of inciting genocide, you don't invite them for tea. You don't give them a platform and you certainly don't welcome them as a guest of honour, next week, while suppressing the voices of those who object. The division this visit will cause isn't on the protesters. It isn't on the hundreds of thousands of Australians demanding their government live up to its values. The division next week's visit will cause is on this government for making a choice that betrays the Australian community's conscience and exposes this Labor government's moral cowardice.

History will judge this moment. It will judge whether we stood on the right side or whether we chose cynical pandering, to the US and its ally Israel, over justice. It will judge whether we listened to calls for justice or tried to silence them in here, on the street and in the media. I urge all members to support this motion to send a clear message that Australia will not be complicit in genocide. This invitation is immoral. It is wrong, and it's time we said so.