Greens MPs among Palestine protesters at Queensland parliament Christmas event

Greens MPs were among the group which gathered as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli lit a Christmas tree.

State Green MPs Michael Berkman and Amy MacMahon during the rally outside Queensland parliament.

Pro-Palestine protesters, accompanied by two state Green MPs, have crashed the Queensland parliament Christmas event on Thursday as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli lit a tree outside.

About 20 supporters gathered outside the parliament building for a flash protest, calling for a ceasefire and chanting “free free Palestine.”

State Greens MPs Michael Berkman and Amy MacMahon were spotted outside the building with a Palestinian flag and a sign that read “free Palestine”.

Pro-Palestine protest crashes Christmas tree lighting at Queensland Parliament. pic.twitter.com/qTfEA9s8jU

— Lydia Lynch (@LydiaLynch101) November 30, 2023

“The Greens have been supporting the call for a ceasefire and an end to the genocide in Gaza for the past 50 days,” Mr MacMahon told The Australian.

Mr MacMahon defended the chanting of “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be sea”, which Jewish leaders have described as a call for genocide.

“We understand this to be a very commonly used phrase among Palestinians who have been fighting for land, life and culture for many decades,” she said.

Mr Berkman said the minor party wanted to deliver a “poignant message” to other MPs who were gathered to celebrate the end of the parliamentary year.

“While MPs are celebrating and breaking for Christmas, there is a genocide going on in Gaza,” he said.

“We can’t just wipe our hands from that and go on holiday.”

Speaker Curtis Pitt spoke to the gathered politicians and staffers in the front of the parliament before Ms Palaszczuk and Mr Crisafulli hit the button to light the tree.

“All I want for Christmas is a ceasefire,” they chanted on cue.

MPs including the Premier, ministers and Mr Crisafulli moved inside as a strong police presence remained.

The protest was organised by the Solidarity and Resistance Collective and Justice for Palestine Meanjin