Palestinian statehood would rally Labor base, says Bob Carr

Bob Carr has called on the government to recognise Palestinian statehood before the next election, saying it would ‘rally the party base’ as he launched Jamal Rifi’s new political movement in Sydney.

Former foreign minister and NSW premier Bob Carr is a staunch supporter of Palestinian statehood. Picture: AAP

Labor stalwart Bob Carr has called on the Albanese government to recognise Palestinian statehood before the next federal election, saying it aligned with Australian values and would “rally the party base” in what polls suggest will be a neck-and-neck campaign.

Speaking to The Australian as he launched Lebanese Muslim community leader Jamal Rifi’s “Friends of Burke” political campaign in southwest Sydney on Thursday night, the former foreign minister and NSW premier said not recognising Palestine before the election could spell “disaster” for Labor.

“Given the polls are saying Labor could end up in a minority government … this (recognising Palestinian statehood) is something that should be resolved before the election,” he said.

“It’s electorally popular and accords with (public) sentiment.”

Mr Carr is one of Labor’s most vocal pro-Palestine voices, even if from the sidelines, and is the patron of Dr Rifi’s political movement that will campaign to re-elect ministers Tony Burke and Jason Clare amid an anticipated anti-ALP onslaught in their Sydney electorates.

Dr Rifi said his movement would counter the anti-Labor “Muslim vote” campaigns, which are backing independent candidate Ziad Basyouny in Mr Burke’s Watson electorate, and allow the minister to focus on his new portfolios.

Former NSW Premier Bob Carr and Jamal Rifi at the launch of the Friends of Burke campaign on Thursday in southwest Sydney. Picture: Alexi Demetriadi

The launch at Punchbowl’s Eighteen22 restaurant was headlined by Mr Carr and brought together about 70 members from the Muslim community, interfaith figures, and those from the Palestinian and Southeast Asia diasporas, as well as local Labor figures.

It comes amid tensions within the Muslim community about Labor’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war and after “bullying” tactics from activists who sought to disrupt the launch. A handful of people protested outside with keffiyehs and placards, accompanied by a small police presence, but it remained peaceful.

Mr Carr told The Australian before the launch that he had a “close working relationship” with Dr Rifi during his time as premier.

“He’s enormously respected and his support for Tony means a lot,” he said. “I admire both, and in that spirit accepted the invitation (to be the patron).”

Dr Rifi has said his movement will lean on tactics perfected by the teal community independents, with volunteers having “kitchen table” conversations with voters, particularly those in the Muslim community.

The launch came after Australia abstained at the United Nations on a Palestinian Authority resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza within the year.

But Australia’s ambassador to the UN said that it was “only a matter of time” until the country recognised a Palestinian state, something Mr Carr believed would be the ethical position but also boost Labor before next year’s likely poll.

Tony Burke.

Ziad Basyouny.

“It’s important we move sooner rather than later, it could be a potential disaster if we leave it until after the election,” he said, citing polls suggesting a minority government.

Mr Carr said it would be an “electorally popular move”, align with “public sentiment”, and constitute a foreign policy agenda that “accounted” for Australian values.

“And it would rally the Labor base,” he said, pointing to Mr Burke’s longstanding support of Palestine but that he was bound by cabinet solidarity.

Dr Basyouny launched his own campaign in August, which is backed by The Muslim Vote and Muslim Votes Matter, the two main organisations looking to oust Labor. He slammed the government on Thursday, saying it and its response in the UN lacked “compassion and action”.

Mr Burke and Mr Clare hold their seats on margins of about 15 per cent, but both member’s electorates have a large proportion of Muslim voters, segments of who are supportive of the anti-Labor campaigns.

It comes after Gaza played a role at NSW local government elections on Saturday, with Labor appearing likely to lose its majority on Canterbury-Bankstown Council, which takes in large swathes of Watson and Blaxland.