Greens to seek sanctions for Israel as parliament resumes

The Greens will use parliament’s return to urge the Albanese government to sanction Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, after knocking on 50,000 doors campaigning on Labor’s ‘failure to act’ on Gaza.

Greens leader Adam Bandt says the party is focused on Labor’s ‘failure to act on the crises that are making people’s lives tougher’. Collage: Frank Ling

The Greens will use the return of parliament after the five-week winter break to urge the Albanese government to sanction Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his government, after knocking on 50,000 doors to campaign on Labor’s “failure to act” on Gaza.

As Anthony Albanese appealed to politicians to “lower the temperature of debate”, a defiant Greens leader Adam Bandt declared: “If Labor wants to change the debate, they should change their position, starting with sanctioning the extremist Netanyahu government, recognising Palestine and ending the two-way military trade with Israel.”

A Greens motion that could be put to the Senate as early as Monday, but will be moved at a time that will have “greatest effect”, notes the government has imposed autonomous sanctions on people and entities connected to North Korea, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Russia, Syria and Zimbabwe.

It says that, despite UN independent investigations showing “clear violations of international law” by Israel, the government hasn’t placed sanctions on any person or entity “complicit in the genocide and war crimes being perpetrated by the State of Israel”.

The motion “calls on the government to sanction members of the extremist Netanyahu government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant”.

Cabinet minister Ed Husic said over the weekend that Labor should be open to extending sanctions to Israel and its leader, sparking condemnation from Jewish groups and the opposition who warned such sanctions against the government of a democratic friend and partner would be unprecedented.

The Greens conducted a pre-election ground offensive in Labor electorates with working class and migrant communities, knocking on 50,000 doors during the winter break to try to destabilise the government over the war in Gaza and the cost of living.

Attempting to move into traditionally Labor-held seats to expand the Greens’ representation at the next election, the party mobilised volunteers in Wills (held by Peter Khalil) and Cooper (Ged Kearney) in Victoria, Richmond in NSW (Justine Elliot), Moreton in Queensland (Graham Perrett) and Perth (Patrick Gorman).

The Australian was told there was “anger at Labor’s continued refusal to sanction Israel and recognise Palestine” as well as disappointment over the extent of cost-of-living support through the revamped stage three tax cuts. Rent increases were also said to be a hot topic.

“(We’ve been) talking with people about Labor’s failure to act on the crises that are making people’s lives tougher. From thousands of conversations, it is clear people are hurting. The cost of living and housing crisis is biting, and Labor’s failure to sanction the extremist Israeli government is a continued moral failure,” Mr Bandt said.

“Whether it’s refusing to sanction the extremist Benjamin Netanyahu or dressing up in Coles cosplay while shoppers get price gouged, Labor is failing to act on big crises then trying to blame everyone else.”

Mr Gorman, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, said it was “absolute arrogance” for the Greens to pretend their leader’s views from Melbourne were the same views of the people of Perth.

“I have doorknocked the Perth electorate for six years, including on Saturday, I know that Labor’s tax cuts have been welcomed,” he said. “Western Australians know we are a government that gets things done. That’s why Western Australians are seeing more money in their pay packets and $700 off their electricity bills.

“Perth voters have seen through the anger and misrepresentation from the Greens at every election.”

Mr Perrett has been doorknocking with his state colleagues in Moreton ahead of the Queensland election and said the cost of living was the No.1 issue raised, followed by climate change.

“We’ve got more to do in terms of the cost of living, some people weren’t aware of the tax cuts. Not many people are doing it easy at the moment,” he said.

“I’ve had more people raise issues to do with the Horn of Africa than to do with the Middle East, I’ve got a significant African community.”

Ms Elliot, Assistant Social Services Minister, said locals in her seat were discussing many issues, especially the cost of living, but were also telling her Labor’s tax cuts, energy bill relief and cheaper medicines were “making a real difference in their day-to-day lives”.

“Locals also tell me that the Greens are just too extreme - and a topic that is continually brought up is the Greens’ plan to ban police from carrying guns and tasers. As a former cop, I know that police need to be equipped to keep us safe,” she said.

Mr Khalil, the Prime Minister’s new special envoy for social cohesion, said his constituents’ main concern was cost-of-living, housing affordability and how the government was tackling these issues.

“We discuss Labor’s cost-of-living measures including tax cuts for every tax payer and energy rebates for every household, and our plan to build 1.2 million new homes. I know there is more to do, and as a member of a party of government my focus remains on actually delivering policy that ensures people have a better life,” he said.

The Australian understands in the seat of Cooper cost-of-living was also a top issue raised with Labor, but not everyone in the electorate was aware of the government’s $300 energy rebate.

There was a “small group” who were very concerned about Palestine, but they were pleased with Ms Kearney’s advocacy.