Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

What happens when you don't stand up to bullies? That's right; they keep bullying people. Let me assure the Senate that that same rule applies to war criminals, just as it does to bullies. We've seen in Gaza, over the last two-plus years, war crimes perpetrated by Israel and supported by the United States and Australia. Because countries like Australia didn't stand up to the war crimes being perpetrated on the people of Gaza, or the genocide being perpetrated on the people of Gaza, that's emboldened war criminals like Netanyahu, and now we see Israel, the United States and Australia at war with Iran in an illegal war. Who pays the price? The same people that always pay the price: the people of Gaza, the people of Palestine, the people of Iran and other people throughout that region, who are enduring and suffering as war criminals perpetrate war on them.

This is why international law exists—to protect people. That is why it is so egregious when people like Netanyahu, Trump and the Australian Labor Party perpetrate illegal wars. Make no mistake: Australia is at war with Iran, and that is an illegal war. We should be advocating for peace, not war. We should be advocating for an end to the slaughter in Gaza, the genocide in Gaza and the suffering of the Iranian people. Peace, not war. History will remember the war criminals. (Time expired)

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