Solidarity, Peace, and Justice: The MUA’s Position on Palestine
The Maritime Union of Australia has, throughout its 154 years of militant, progressive history, stood alongside the oppressed, advanced the cause of peace, and demanded justice for workers, communities, and nations facing brutality, violence, and bombardment.
Our Union has a strong tradition of standing up against injustice, violence, and oppression. We fight for sovereignty, peace, and justice. We stood against fascism in the early 20th century, against apartheid in South Africa, against imperialist wars in Vietnam and the Middle East, for the independence and freedom of the people of Timor-Leste and Cuba, and for Aboriginal Reconciliation and constitutional recognition, amongst other important and often ongoing causes for justice and peace throughout the world.
The MUA will work with any party and any group to advance these aims where there is a shared interest and capacity to deliver meaningful outcomes in pursuit of peace and justice.
Action at the ALP National Conference
At the ALP National Conference in Adelaide, the MUA supported the draft Husic motion regarding Israel’s illegal and indefensible genocide and occupation in Palestine on the basis that it aligned more elements of the MUA’s own policy with the ALP platform. However, it became clear that if this motion made it to the Conference floor, pro-Israel forces within the ALP would have derailed it and used the ensuing debate to pull progress back even further.
A decision was therefore made to move ahead with the wording of the consensus position that was ultimately adopted by the ALP Conference.
MUA 2024 Quadrennial National Conference Resolution
Official Declaration:
The National Conference of Members reiterates the MUA’s longstanding position of solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people, and the fight for a free and liberated Palestine with equal rights for all residents.
Conference Notes:
75 Years of Occupation: For 75 years historic Palestine has been unjustly occupied by the state of Israel, with the backing of Western governments. Palestinians expelled from their homelands in the 1948 Nakba are still denied the right of return.
Apartheid & Siege: Israel is an apartheid state. The Palestinian occupied territories are under the control of Israel, and Palestinians are not granted equal rights. Since 2007 Gaza has been under total siege, subject to a land, sea, and air blockade as an open-air prison.
War Crimes in Gaza: Since October 2023, Israel has subjected 2.3 million people in Gaza to unprecedented bombardment, killing tens of thousands, and targeting hospitals, refugee camps, and residential areas. Israel has cut off food, water, electricity, and fuel. These are war crimes.
Settler Violence & Political Prisoners: The Israeli government continues to facilitate settler violence on Palestinians in the West Bank, and unjustly mass arrests thousands of Palestinians as political prisoners.
International Law: Israel’s claim that the assault waged since October 2023 is an act of self-defence has no standing in International Law.
Anti-Colonial Tradition: The MUA has a proud tradition of standing on the side of the colonised and oppressed in their fight for liberation, including using our industrial strength in the struggle for social justice. There is no equivalence between coloniser and colonised. The Palestinian people have an inalienable right to resist.
Anti-Racism & Solidarity: The rejection of Zionist ideology and Israel’s violence is not antisemitic. A large and growing number of Jewish individuals and groups are speaking out against Israel’s crimes against humanity. The Palestinian rights movement, including the MUA, is committed to fighting anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of racism, and welcomes Jewish attendees and speakers at all its actions.
Call from Palestinian Unions: Palestinian trade unions have called on unions internationally to campaign to urgently halt the arms trade with Israel, as well as all funding and military research. Western diplomatic ties with Israel and the lack of clear condemnation from Western governments have given Israel carte blanche to increase violence against Palestinians.
Conference Resolves That:
Campaign for Justice & Ceasefire: The MUA continues to support movements for justice for the Palestinian people, and supports campaigns calling for an end to violence in Gaza and the West Bank, the siege on Gaza, all apartheid laws, and illegal occupation. We call for a permanent ceasefire and steps toward a just peace.
Ending Arms Exports: We will support the Palestinian unions’ campaign to end weapons exports and diplomatic relations between all countries (including Australia) and Israel.
BDS Support: We will exert pressure on the state of Israel via companies and institutions complicit in the ongoing occupation and violence. We support all campaigns called for by the Palestinian trade unions (represented by the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions), including the ongoing call for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel.
Member Defense: We will defend the movement and any MUA member disciplined, arrested, charged, or discriminated against for supporting the BDS campaign in the fight to free Palestine.
Government Transparency: We call on the Australian Government to release to the public a full list of all weapons exported to Israel since this war began, and campaign for an end to weapons exports to Israel. The MUA and its representatives will use all avenues to pressure Australian governments and political parties to end all supply of weapons and military equipment to Israel.
Union Sector Mobilisation: The MUA will lobby peak union bodies at state and federal levels to adopt these positions and support national union rallies to say no to the bombing of Gaza, end the siege on Gaza, and stop weapons supplies to Israel.
Comparison of ALP Platforms
ALP 2023 Platform Position
On the question of Israel’s illegal occupation and bombardment of Palestine, the 2023 Platform stated only that the ALP National Conference:
Supports the recognition and right of Israel and Palestine to exist as two states within secure and recognised borders;
Calls on the Australian Government to recognise Palestine as a state; and
Expects that this issue will be an important priority for the Australian Government.
ALP 2026 Platform Position
The updated 2026 ALP Platform position states:
Two-State Solution: Labor has long supported a two-state solution, and the right of Israel and Palestine to exist, as the only path towards a future where Palestinians and Israelis can live in freedom, safety and security.
Recognition & Self-Determination: As part of Australia’s contribution to that future, the Labor Government recognised the State of Palestine in September 2025, alongside the international community. Labor affirms the right to self-determination and principles of sovereignty, justice and dignity for Palestinians, in accordance with relevant United Nations conventions and Security Council resolutions.
Illegal Settlements & Occupation: Labor opposes the annexation of Palestinian territory and wants Israel to bring its illegal settlement activity and the occupation to an end, to see security for Palestine, for Israel and for the region. Labor urges the Government to prevent any support being given to illegal settlement activity or extremist settler violence, and to implement further action and sanctions as necessary.
Condemnation of Violence: Labor unreservedly condemns terrorism and violent extremism, including as perpetrated by Hamas and other extremists. Labor reaffirms our belief that Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live their lives free from terror and violence.
International Law & Courts: Labor believes in international law and will defend it. Labor supports the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court and compliance with their binding decisions. Labor acknowledges the findings of the International Court of Justice in its advisory opinion on the Legal consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem.
Humanitarian Obligations: Under international humanitarian law, Israel must comply with obligations as an occupying power, including in respect of food and medical supplies for the Palestinian civilian population. Labor is part of the international demand for Israel to allow aid providers and NGOs to provide lifesaving assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, in full cooperation with the United Nations.
Discriminatory Laws & Death Penalty: Australia has always stood against the death penalty as an inhumane and degrading form of punishment. Labor condemns recent Knesset legislation and all other discriminatory laws which target Palestinians.
Peace and Social Cohesion: Labor stands with local communities who are affected by this generations-long conflict. We will support initiatives that bring Israelis and Palestinians closer together, to advance a two-state solution based on internationally recognised borders. In the spirit of Labor values of respect, dignity and inclusion, Labor expresses our collective hope for a future where the peoples of Palestine and Israel and the region can live in peace and security.
The MUA will continue to fight for the Palestinian people in all of the political forums it engages within, including the ALP, consistent with our own position set by rank-and-file members of the Union at our most recent MUA National Conference in 2024.
