Albanese stresses need for ceasefire, says Greens losing votes on Gaza

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared hope for a ceasefire in Gaza that could take heat out of the domestic dispute over the war, claiming the Greens’ credibility has been eroded by the party’s bid to harness the Middle East conflict to win new seats and push Labor into minority.

Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu is sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to ceasefire talks in Qatar, raising hopes for an end to the war amid pressure for a deal before Donald Trump’s US presidential inauguration on January 20.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Perth last week.Credit: Getty Images

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, will attend Trump’s inauguration after weeks of Coalition questions about how Labor would build a relationship with the Republican, about whom Albanese government ministers have previously made disparaging comments.

Government sources familiar with the trip said Wong would not meet with Trump but rather with her foreign affairs counterparts. These may include Trump’s pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, whose congressional confirmation is set for January 15.

Foreign ministers from India and Japan, both members of the Quad diplomatic partnership that also includes Australia and the US, are also expected to meet Wong.

As US officials work to seal a Gaza ceasefire after many failed attempts, Albanese said Australians wanted to see peace.

“I hope that there is a ceasefire and a sustainable ceasefire. I hope that that occurs,” he said in an interview with this masthead on Friday.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

“People want to see an end to conflict. They want to see hostages released, and we want to see the Israelis and Palestinians to be able to live in peace and security.

“We want to see terrorist organisations like Hamas cease to exist.”

On Thursday, Gaza’s Health Ministry said more than 46,000 Palestinians had been killed in the war, the majority women and children. The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas gunmen stormed across the border with Israel, killing 1200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Albanese has defended himself against opposition claims he has failed to guard against a rise in antisemitism after the October 7 attacks, an issue former Coalition treasurer Josh Frydenberg said on Friday would feature as a key theme in the upcoming election. NSW police are investigating an attempt to set fire to an inner Sydney synagogue on Saturday.

Accused of being too pro-Palestine by the Coalition, Albanese has also faced fierce attack from the Greens for allegedly being “complicit in genocide” and failing to sanction Israel and cut diplomatic ties.

Asked if the Greens had damaged their electoral prospects with their rhetoric on the war, Albanese said the party was already witnessing electoral consequences after poor results in the Queensland, ACT and NSW council elections.

“I think the Greens political party have through their own actions and misinformation, undermined their credibility,” he said. “They have made suggestions about Australian government involvement that are opportunistic and just not true.”

Wong said of her upcoming US trip: “I am honoured to be invited to attend President Donald Trump’s inauguration. It is a demonstration of the steadfast alliance between Australia and the United States.

“This early visit will be an important opportunity to discuss how we can advance the benefits of our strong economic and security partnership and expand our co-operation.”

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