Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young interrupts Nationals leader David Littleproud interview in Parliament corridor
Tensions usually reserved for the floor of the House and Senate have spilled out into the corridors as the domestic political battle over the Israel-Hamas war intensifies | VIDEO
Tensions usually reserved for the floor of the House and Senate have spilled out into the corridors as the domestic political contest over the Israel-Hamas war intensifies.
While addressing the media at a doorstop on Thursday morning, Nationals leader David Littleproud was interrupted by Greens environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young who took issue with the Coalition’s stance on the conflict.
“Why don’t you say something about the children being slaughtered?” Senator Hanson-Young said as she walked past interrupting Mr Littleproud’s media conference as he took questions from reporters.
After Peter Dutton called for a blanket ban on arrivals from Gaza, arguing some may harbour sympathies for Hamas, Labor, the Greens and Muslim groups have hit back against the move which would prevent refugees from fleeing the war torn enclave.
Speaking to the media earlier, Senator Hanson-Young accused the Opposition Leader of heading the “nasty party”.
“It’s Trumpian, it’s despicable and it needs to be called out,” she said.
Earlier on Thursday, Mr Dutton upped his attacks on Labor’s handling of national security, demanding Anthony Albanese explain the visa screening process for Palestinians escaping Gaza.
Moving to suspend standing orders in the House, Mr Dutton took aim at claims made by the Prime Minister that the vetting process undertaken to check arrivals from Gaza was the same as it had been under the previous Coalition government.
But speaking in response to Mr Dutton’s motion in the House, Teal MP Zali Steggall accused Mr Dutton of being racist.
“I am offended by the rhetoric from the leader of the opposition, the nature of this suspension of standing orders and the continued attempts to divide the Australian society around these lines and issues,” she said.
“These are normal families, these are families you are seeking to paint that somehow they are all terrorists that they should all be mistrusted … that they are not worthy of humanitarian aid.”
As Ms Stegall was speaking, Mr Dutton interjected prompting her to yell “We heard you in silence. You can hear me in silence. Stop being racist!”
Immediately rising to his feet, Mr Dutton immediately called on Ms Steggall to withdraw the “offensive and unparliamentary remark”. The Teal MP complied.
The division to suspend standing orders was defeated with Labor and the crossbench voting against the Coalition’s push.
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