Thursday, 22 June 2023

Palestine

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:07): (195) My question is for the Leader of the Government. Minister, national governments recognise other states, but state governments like Victoria often hold clear views and policy positions about foreign jurisdictions, both national and subnational, and even sign accords with national governments, like the Belt and Road agreement. In this context I ask you, as Leader of the Government and also representative of the Premier, the following: given on Sunday the Victorian ALP conference passed a motion calling on the Albanese government to recognise a Palestinian state before the next election, what is the policy of the Victorian Labor government in relation to recognising a Palestinian state? Are we to conclude that the Victorian government will comply with the direction of the ALP conference, or will the Victorian government, as I would advise, thumb its nose at the Victorian ALP state conference?

The PRESIDENT: I cannot see how that falls within the responsibility of the minister as far as the executive goes. I do not even think you can try to rephrase it.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Let me finish. There are a few things too. The minister is not responsible for any political party conference. She has no responsibility under the executive. But I will take a point of order if you like.

David DAVIS: On a point of order, President, my question was: what is the policy of the Victorian Labor government in relation to the recognition of a Palestinian state?

The PRESIDENT: And the minister will say, ‘That doesn’t fall inside my responsibility under the executive.’

David DAVIS: President, further on the point of order, I asked: will the state government comply with the direction of the ALP conference, or will the Victorian government, as I would advise, thumb its nose?

The PRESIDENT: And that is something the minister is not responsible for as well. As an aside ‍– I am not letting the question go through – can I advise that when there is a question that has multiple questions, even if it is relevant to the minister, the minister can pick one. Anyway, I am not letting it through.