Greens leader Adam Bandt threatens Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus with legal action over ‘disinformation’

Penny Wong declares the party were ‘out there inciting aggression and ­violence’ as Adam Bandt rejects those suggestions, accusing Labor of supporting ‘slaughter in Gaza’.

Greens leader Adam Bandt reacts during a division after question time on Wednesday. Picture: AAP

Labor is building a case against Adam Bandt and his party’s involvement in “violent” pro-Palestinian protests targeting its MPs, as the defiant Greens leader rejected suggestions his colleagues had been aggressive and accused the federal government of supporting “slaughter in Gaza”.

Mr Bandt is threatening legal action after Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus alleged the Greens leader and his party were “encouraging” criminal damage and sometimes violent behaviour.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong declared the Greens were “out there inciting aggression, ­violence (and) violent protest”, while Victorian Labor MP Ged Kearney – whose staff have been targeted and allegedly abused by pro-Palestinian protesters – said the Greens were engaging in and inciting violence and aggressive protest.

Mr Bandt has publicly backed pro-Palestinian protests, posting on Facebook in April: “To everyone holding this government to account with their marching, ­calling, blockading: we are with you and we will keep pushing.”

He has also expressed “solidarity” with the University of Melbourne’s pro-Palestine protest and encampment.

The Greens candidate for the federal seat of Wills, Samantha Ratnam, a former Victorian Greens leader, has urged university protests to “keep being radical and get more radical”.

She also addressed a Melbourne rally earlier this month, saying: “Look at those brave young people at universities and encampments, everyone turning up here week after week, month after month, at parliament, at MPs’ offices, so courageous, so strong.”

Greens social media accounts, including the Australian Young Greens and Victorian state MP Gabrielle de Vietri, promoted the “national day of action against Labor MPs complicit in genocide”, where groups were encouraged to “take autonomous actions, such as picketing, flyering, and occupation of offices”.

Greens accounts have also partnered with a group called Disrupt Wars, which has liked Instagram content telling people to “stop condemning October 7” ­because “the violence of the ­oppressed can never equate to the violence of the oppressor”.

Mr Bandt said Mr Dreyfus had made “utterly unfounded statements” and spread “disinformation” about himself and his party, a day after Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton united to condemn and politically isolate the Greens.

Mr Dreyfus on Wednesday voiced concerns about the Greens’ role in the blockading of electorate offices, amid accusations the minor party was exploiting the unfolding conflict in Gaza to fuel division and undermine social cohesion. “The Greens political party and particularly the leader of the Greens … have got something to answer for here in the way they have been encouraging criminal damage of MPs electorate offices, encouraging really riotous behaviour, sometimes violent behaviour, that has been occurring outside electorate officers,” Mr Dreyfus said on ABC TV.

Mr Bandt on Thursday revealed he had written to Mr Dreyfus regarding what he considered to be defamatory statements.

“I think that the first law officer of this country should not make utterly unfounded statements and spread disinformation. No politician should do that,” he said. “I would prefer not to have to pursue these matters legally, and I hope the Attorney-General will respond in a proper way. The Prime Minister and Labor are not the victims in these matters. The victims are the over 36,000 people killed in the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the hostages, and the 1200 people killed on October 7, compounded by the failure of the Labor government to take action against the ­Israeli government’s invasion.”

With growing concerns for the safety of MPs and their staff, Peter Dutton said Mr Bandt was “unfit to be in public office” and labelled the Greens “evil”, saying they had become a party that wasn’t about the environment but radical causes. “Somehow Adam Bandt, who I think is unfit to be in public office, he has led the party now that is central to what we’re seeing on campuses and the distribution of hate and anti-Semitic messages online, the chanting of river to the sea and intifada etc,” the Opposition Leader told 2GB radio.

Ms Kearney, the member for Cooper, had bricks thrown at the front window of her electorate office on Tuesday night, more than a month after her staff were targeted and allegedly abused by pro-Palestinian protesters. The incident has been captured on CCTV and forced the office to close. A meet-and-greet at a local cafe scheduled for the weekend was also cancelled due to safety concerns.

The Australian was told police have notified Ms Kearney’s office that their presence will be required at future advertised public events.

Mr Bandt did not explicitly condemn the alleged violence and abuse that occurred at a separate April 30 constituent event hosted by Ms Kearney and noted no Greens MPs were involved in the violent and aggressive behaviour.

“Everyone deserves a safe workplace. There is no place for ­violence in this country. And we have made that crystal clear. There is no place for violence in politics,” Mr Bandt said.

“We’re seeing an attempt by the Prime Minister to distract from Labor’s support for the ongoing invasion and slaughter in Gaza and Labor’s refusal to take any meaningful action to bring pressure to bear on the extreme war cabinet of (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I will not be lectured to about peace and nonviolence from a Prime Minister and Opposition Leader who back the invasion of Gaza and continue to do so right up to this day, even as we see the tragic suffering unfolding before our eyes.”