The following 5 motions were adopted as a block:
- Israel/Palestine Relations with Israel
- Aid and support for Palestinian civilians
- Illegal Settlement Expansion and Settler Violence in the West Bank
- Australian Citizens serving in the IDF
- Obligations under international law.
1. Israel / Palestine: Relations with Israel
(0265R, 0374R, 0391R, 0587R, 0764R, 0891R)
Australia has obligations under international humanitarian law and is signatory to the Genocide convention. These instruments require nations to undertake all measures to ensure the government, individuals, entities and businesses are not engaged in unlawful acts of settlement, occupation and genocide.
Recently we have seen Joint statements signed by Australia and its allies calling for many actions pertaining to the illegal blockade of Gaza and occupation of the Palestinian territories.
We acknowledge international cooperation is critical, but Australia cannot wait for other nations to act. We have an opportunity to take the lead and implement concrete actions to ensure safety, security and justice for the Palestinian people now and into the future.
This policy conference urges the Australian Government to undertake:
* An urgent review of all relations with Israel (political, cultural, educational, economic and military) followed by actions to ensure that no Australian individuals or entities (government, private business, civil) are providing aid or assistance to Israel in the commission of the unlawful acts of settlement, occupation and genocide. We note that this is a binding obligation on all nations as per the International Court of Justice 2024 ruling.
* An immediate review of the Future Fund to ensure that its investments are not contributing directly or indirectly to the current genocide in Gaza or the maintenance and expamsion of settlements and occupation in the West Bank.
2. Israel/Palestine: Aid and Support for Palestinian Civilians
(0142R, 0259R, 0373R, 0390R, 0583R, 0762R, 0766R, 0889R, 1160R)
The humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is dire and continues to worsen. The blocking of essential supplies is creating a catastrophe for the whole Gazan population. The situation is entirely avoidable as ample aid is available on the border of Gaza, waiting to be delivered, and much more is available to be sent, once the blocking by Israel is stopped.
Australia must do all it can to facilitate the direct delivery of essential supplies to civilians, apply pressure to Israel to lift the illegal blockade and to refrain from using starvation and collective punishment as a weapon of war.
The evidence emerging of the treatment of hostages and the abhorrent treatment, rape and torture of Palestinian prisoners in arbitrary detention (reported at between 10-15,000) is intolerable and those responsible must face the courts Australian citizens are bearing the horrendous loss of the loved ones in Gaza. The assistance provided by our government must be enhanced through the provision of permanent visa pathways.
The Gold Coast policy conference condemns Israel’s deliberate blockage of essential supplies to Gaza, the brutal militarisation of aid delivery and the repression of UNRWA operations across the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Conference implores the Federal Government to act with urgency to:
- Call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and people in arbitrary detention.
- Practically support the safe and unimpeded delivery of essential supplies, aid and humanitarian services including mobile hospitals and medical evacuations by UN agencies and independent civil organisations.
- Reaffirm UNRWA’s mandate by the UN as the principal agency to deliver humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees.
- Increase direct funding the by $2 million per annum for the next 5 years.
- Take decisive action to directly provide aid and life-saving support to Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
- Expanded permanent visa pathways and settlement support for those Palestinians seeking refuge in Australia.
- Establish a scholarship program for students in the OPT to study in Australian universities.
3. Israel/Palestine: Illegal settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank
(1161R)
The situation for the Palestinians people in the West Bank is very dire with continued, illegal settlement expansion and the brutal settler violence, dispossession, forced gated curfews and ethnic cleansing.
They are suffering the destruction of their livelihoods, farmlands and olive trees.
In August 2025 Israeli forces destroyed the Palestinian seed bank in the West Bank.
Israel now occupies 80% of land left for a Palestinian state.
This Queensland ALP State Conference condemns the continuous Israeli attacks, forced displacement and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and east Jerusalem and implores the Australian Government to act directly and multilaterally in accordance with international law, UN Conventions and resolutions to demand an end to:
- The ongoing illegal settlement expansion, annexation and ethnic cleansing through forced displacement and forced gated curfews of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and
- The continuing brutal settler violence, deaths, destruction and dispossession of the Palestinian people aided and abetted by the Israel defence forces.
4. Australian Citizens Serving in the Israeli Defense Forces
(0943R)
Australians and the international community continue to witness mass killing, destruction and deprivation in Gaza.
The Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu has disregarded repeated calls from the United Nations and governments worldwide for a ceasefire, as shown by its ongoing assault across Gaza.
Systematic killing, maiming and starvation of civilians, and the bombing of hospitals, schools, residential areas and essential infrastructure- including the destruction of entire towns and villages-has been extensively documented. International legal bodies and human rights organisations have issued findings and warnings regarding grave breaches of international humanitarian and criminal law by Israeli forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
A January 2024 study by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians confirms at least 23 Australians are serving in the Israeli military, with many more dual nationals eligible for mobilisation.
In federal parliament, Minister Ed Husic raised concern that Australians serving in the IDF could be treated as foreign fighters under Australian law, particularly in light of International Court of Justice proceedings concerning alleged genocide. He has urged clarification of Australia’s legal obligations.
Australia is a State Party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, and has incorporated war crimes and crimes against humanity into domestic law through the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). Obligations also arise under the Crimes (Foreign Incursions and Recruitment) Act 1978 and related foreign fighter provisions.
There is now an urgent need for enforcement mechanisms that reflect these obligations.
This Queensland State Conference:
- Continue to call on Israel to fulfil its obligations under international law, including in line with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice.
- Respect the independent of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court and support full accountability for those who have perpetrated war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Recognises that Australian citizens and dual nationals have been recruited or have volunteered to serve in the Israeli Defence Force and may be actively participating in military operations in Gaza.
- Notes Minister Ed Husic’s warning that Australians serving in the IDF may fall within the definition of foreign fighters under Australian law and could face liability if international courts find Israel responsible for serious violations.
- Calls on the Australian Government to urgently
- Issue explicit legal notices to Australian citizens and dual nationals that serve in the IDF during operations that may constitute war crimes or genocide which could give rise to criminal liability under Australian and international law;
- Ensure investigations and prosecutions are mandatory where credible allegations of complicity in international crimes exist.
5. Justice for Palestinians: Obligations under international law
(0375R, 0392R, 0262R, 0584R, 0763R, 0767R, 0768R, 0890R)
This conference applauds the Albanese Labor Government’s historic decision to recognise a sovereign Palestinian State.
Immediate recognition is a demand we campaigned for and has been supported consistently by branch members. Labor activists worked long and hard to get recognition into the Party’s official policy platform in 2018.
We recognise that the Albanese Government has publicly called for an immediate permanent ceasefire, and an end to unlawful settlement activity and free supply of humanitarian aid.
We also welcome the Government’s decision to impose sanctions on two extremist ministers in the Netanyahu Government.
However, far stronger and more decisive measures are required to apply effective pressure on the Netanyahu Government to cease their actions.
Queensland Labor members are horrified and unequivocally condemn the actions of the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu, and its ongoing violence against Palestinian civilians in the illegally Occupied Palestinian Territories.
These include, encouraging settler attacks and expansion, ethnic cleansing, the siege and blockade of essential supplies to Gaza and the genocidal military campaign of attacks on Palestinian civilians, medics, aid workers, schools, hospitals, homes, refugee shelters and Utilities.
This local policy conference welcomes the Australian Government’s announcement that it will recognise the state of Palestine at the September meeting of the United Nations. The governments announcement is an important step towards Palestinian national rights.
However, the Foreign Minister’s warning that there will be no Palestine left to recognise remains true. Consequently, the Australian Government must move beyond the significant step of recognition and take urgent, concrete action to end the violence and destruction across the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT).
The urgent actions must include:
- Build on existing sanctions on Israeli ministers to target Israeli individuals and entities who are responsible for human rights violations and abuses.
- Ensuring Australia acts in accordance with our obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty.
- a comprehensive two-way arms embargo on Israel, including all arms, and military parts and components whether supplied directly or indirectly. This must include a suspension of Australia’s involvement in the international F-35 Consortium.
- Develop legislation to improve military trade transparency and tracking laws.
