Wednesday, 7 February 2024

 David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (12:33): (404) My question is to the Premier, represented in this place by the Attorney-General. Despite an order from the International Court of Justice that Israel take all measures within its power to prevent the killing of Palestinian civilians, the genocide in Gaza has continued unabated for 123 days. Over 27,000 Palestinians are dead. Two-thirds of them were non-combatants, mostly women and children. Many more are facing starvation as the Israeli blockade continues. Seventy per cent of homes and hundreds of medical facilities have been destroyed. We recently learned that last year the Victorian government signed an MOU with the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Many Victorians want to know what is in the MOU given the secrecy around it. So my question to the Premier is: will you heed the people of Victoria’s desire for transparency and release this MOU to the public?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:34): I thank Mr Ettershank for his question to the Premier, and I will pass it on to her and provide a response in accordance with the standing orders.

 David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (12:34): I thank the Attorney-General for her assistance. This government has demonstrated moral leadership on many issues. We were the first state to introduce voluntary assisted dying and medicinal cannabis, and we lead the country with our reconciliation processes with First Nations peoples and our ambitious carbon reduction targets. So I ask: given the ongoing genocide in Palestine, will the Allan government demonstrate a similar level of moral leadership by withdrawing from the MOU with Israel’s defence ministry?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:34): I will pass it on to the Premier.