Malinauskas, Speirs on same page as One Nation echoes Greens call for Adelaide show of support for Palestine

Both Labor and Liberal leaders have rejected the call by One Nation - joining the Greens - in calling for Adelaide CBD landmarks to be lit up in Palestinian colours.

One Nation MP Sarah Game wants to light up city landmarks in Palestinian colours and has written to Premier Peter Malinauskas saying it was important to “unite all South Australians regardless of religion or heritage’’.

In a letter written last month, Ms Game said the state government needed to “urgently engage and address the growing distress of the South Australian Palestinian community’’.

One Nation MLC Sarah Game. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Premier Peter Malinauskas. Picture: RoyVPhotography

“I would like to see the government light up the city landmarks of Adelaide to show respect, empathy and solidarity with the South Australian Palestinian community,’’ the legislative councillor said.

“By lighting up the city landmarks of Adelaide, you’re not only brightening the physical landscape but also illuminating the path toward understanding and co-operation.’’

One Nation federal leader Senator Pauline Hanson, who has previously said “Palestine and Hamas are not two separate identities, they are one and the same’’, declined to comment on Ms Game’s support for Palestinians.

Mr Malinauskas has knocked back the request.

A government spokesman said that “like many Australians, the Premier is disturbed by the loss of innocent lives of both Israelis and Palestinians during the terrorist attack and subsequent conflict’’.

“The premier has led a motion in parliament publicly acknowledging this devastating loss, calling for the immediate release of hostages and supporting international efforts to establish and maintain humanitarian access in the conflict zone,’’ the spokesman said.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

City landmarks were lit up in Israeli colours after the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas.

Liberal leader David Speirs also said he did not support the display of Palestinian colours.

An opposition spokesman said the “Liberal Party is not calling for this at this time’’.

However, Greens leader Tammy Franks. who has long called for parliament to be lit up in Palestinian colours, has backed Ms Game’s letter and said the “community has been calling it for eight months now’’.

Muslim community leader Ahmed Zreika said he had no received no “good response’’ from the premier about why landmarks could not be lit up.

“If they really believe they want to treat the communities equally, the Jewish community and the Muslim community in this state, they should light up the building because there is no excuse,’’ Mr Zreika said.

“We asked him (Mr Malinauskas) to do it, just for the sake of the Muslim and Palestinian and Arab community in this state,’’ he said.

“We didn’t ask him to do it to show support for any other things other than the community in this state.’’