Tuesday, 20 February 2024

Middle East conflict

Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (18:52): (707) My adjournment matter is for the Premier. My ask is for the government to provide urgent funding and material aid to Palestinian refugees who have arrived in Victoria fleeing Israel’s war on Gaza. The world is bearing witness to the brutal massacre of the Palestinian people. We know this plight began long before October last year, but what we are now seeing unfold, as many foretold, is the indiscriminate slaughter of thousands of innocent civilians, many of them children. In the wake of the 7 October Hamas attack on Israeli citizens, which was rightly condemned by the international community, parliaments like this one passed motions about standing with Israel, which many of us warned could provide permission for retaliation without restraint, and that is what has occurred. Since then over 100,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, injured or are missing. There is a growing humanitarian catastrophe caused by Israel’s blockade, bombing and invasion of Gaza. There is no hiding behind the hollow rhetoric when you are intentionally targeting civilians. There is no justification and there is absolutely no morality.

There are some of us in this place and in other parliaments across the world who will continue to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. There are some of us who will not relent in trying to get our governments to act with humanity. We will keep asking the questions that make you uncomfortable but have to be asked. We will ask you about your relationships with the Israeli defence ministry and we will keep asking about deals that have been made with weapons manufacturers that are arming an unfolding genocide. To stay silent, to refuse to answer and to refuse to act is not a neutral position, and it is sending a message to the community. That is why thousands upon thousands of Victorians are taking to the streets each and every week.

Millions of Palestinians need our help right now. They need us to keep caring and keep finding ways to help them, and we cannot give up. Australia has allowed some people seeking refuge and asylum from Gaza to enter, but, sadly, the numbers remain small, and tragically many do not have the means to find shelter or access the basic necessities of life. Most have not been granted refugee status, which means they are ineligible for many social supports. Most people are on restrictive bridging visas, so they are finding themselves entirely dependent on the community to stay afloat.

Where the government has failed, individuals and organisations, including the Muslim Women’s Council of Victoria, have been working around the clock to make sure those arriving from Gaza have access to the basics like housing, food and English lessons. It is a matter of conscience that the Victorian government provides help. We did it before in 2019 when a group of asylum seekers who were detained offshore came to the mainland to receive medical support. The state government at that time provided housing and material aid when the federal government failed. Minister, my ask is for the government to commit to providing material aid to the Palestinian people who have arrived in Victoria fleeing Israel’s war on Gaza.