I rise today, as my colleagues before me on both sides of the House have, to speak on this motion to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Israeli-Australian diplomatic relationship. I do so as a proud member of the Australian Jewish community and with the full gravity of the significance of being one of the…
It is an honour for me to be able to stand up here and make my contribution in this formal recognition of the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship established between Australia and the State of Israel. In 1853, Louis Monash and his wife, Bertha Manasse, made the very momentous decision to emigrate from Prussia…
I’m pleased to be making a statement today on the 70th anniversary of Australia’s diplomatic relationship with Israel. I refer to the opposition leader’s speech in the parliament yesterday in which he referred to the personal connections that members of this House and Australians in general share with the people and nation of Israel. READ…
I thank the Prime Minister for his words. I welcome the Ambassador and our friends from the Israeli embassy to the parliament. And I recognise that many members of this house, on both sides, share a special appreciation of this significant anniversary. READ THE FULL SPEECH HERE
Today, 29 January 2019, marks the 70th anniversary of an obscure and long-forgotten event in the history of Australia’s international relations: the day Australia recognised the State of Israel. The issue generated intense behind-the-scenes controversy, and ultimately open disagreement, between the then Labor government, led by Prime Minister Ben Chifley and Foreign Minister, “Doc” Evatt,…
I move this motion – but the text is the work of many. I want to acknowledge that the conflict between Israel and Palestine is an issue of great importance to many in our Party. It is of great importance because Labor is a friend of Israel. I am a friend of Israel. It is…
As Penny said, this resolution is the product of many more people than Penny and myself. I want to specifically acknowledge the consultation with Richard Marles and long standing work of Wendy Turner. In previous conferences we have had resolutions that went forever. Every possible view and recent event would find its way into the…
I would like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay my respects to their elders past and present. “The Australian Jewish community has been a powerhouse of great Australians”. In 1853 Louis Monash and his wife Bertha Manasse made the momentous decision to emigrate from Prussia…
“Social democratic parties have a problem selling opportunity and hope, while conservatives easily sell fear and trepidation.” I am paraphrasing two comments delivered at a recent Australian Labor International dinner hosted by Australian Labor’s Opposition Minister for Foreign Affairs, the remarkable Penny Wong, and current leader of the Israel Labor Party, and soon to be…
I wish to honour the memory of William Cooper both as a member of the Jewish community and a long-time labour movement historian and activist. The dispossession of Australia’s Aboriginal population was little remarked upon by the early labour movement, even if one of the co-founders of The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), William Guthrie Spence,…