Australian news and politics live: Albanese, Wong announce Australia now recognises Palestinian state

Anthony Albanese says Australia has received assurances from the Palestinian Authority that it will recognise Israel’s right to exist in peace and security, commit to demilitarisation and hold general elections as part of plans for a future Palestinian state.

He said President Mahmoud Abbas also pledged to end payments to families of prisoners and militants, reform governance, boost financial transparency, and allow international oversight of education to curb incitement.

“The Palestinian Authority has reaffirmed it recognises Israel’s right to exist in peace and security,” the Prime Minister said, confirming they spoke last Tuesday.

“It has committed to demilitarise and to hold General Elections.

“It has pledged to abolish the system of payments to the families of prisoners and martyrs and promised broader reform of governance, financial transparency in the education system, including international oversight to guard against the incitement of violence and hate led.

“These detailed and significant commit amendments have been given even greater weight by the Arab League’s unprecedented demand for Hamas to end its rule in Gaza, and surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared there can be “no role” for Hamas in any future Palestinian state.

He also repeated calls for Hamas to release hostages taken by the terrorist militant group on October 7, 2023 and warned peace would remain temporary until both Israeli and Palestinian statehood are secured.

“This is an opportunity to deliver self determination for the people of Palestine in a way that isolates Hamas, disarms it and drives it out of the region once and for all,” he said.

“Because until Israeli and Palestinian statehood is permanent, peace can only be temporary.

“Ever since the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023, Australia has stood with the people of Israel and our partners and allies around the world in calling for the release of the hostages.

“For the shake of the loved ones and all who share in their pain, we repeat that call today.

“Our Government has made it clear that there can be no role for the terrorists of Hamas in any future Palestinian state.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia’s decision to recognise Palestinian statehood follows extensive discussions with world leaders and forms part of a “coordinated global effort” to advance a two-state solution.

“Over the past fortnight, I have discussed this with Prime Minister Starmer, President Macron, Prime Minister Luxon and Prime Minister Ishiba, as well as Prime Minister Netanyahu last Thursday, and President Abbas last Tuesday,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza.

“The international community’s vision for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. A state of Israel and a state of Palestine with security for the people of both nations.”

French President Emmanuel Macron had added momentum to the diplomatic campaign when he confirmed his country’s support a fortnight ago.

The announcement comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used a press conference for foreign journalists overnight to condemn Australia and several European nations as “shameful” for considering recognition.

He argued Australia would respond “at least” as forcefully as Israel if Sydney or Melbourne had suffered an attack like the October 7 Hamas assaults, which killed 1,200 people.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said Australia will recognise Palestinian statehood.

Speaking at a press conference in Canberra after holding a National Cabinet meeting on Monday, he said that party colleagues had discussed the matter.

Australia will now prepare to join allies in recognising a Palestinian statehood before the UN general assembly in New York next month.

“Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own predictated on the commit amendments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority,” the PM said.

“We will work with the international community to make this right a reality.”

Chris Minns says he will leave it up to the Commonwealth as to when they recognise Palestinian statehood, but agrees it is the only way forward if there is to be an end to the fighting in Gaza.

“I’m going to leave that up to the Federal Government to make that recognition call, but there’s really only one way that there’s going to be a long-term peace so that generations into the future, young Palestinians and young Israelis can live side-by-side, and that is if there are two states,” Mr Minns said on Monday.

As the Australian Government announces its intention to recognise the State of Palestine, the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) has warned that this recognition is being used as a political fig leaf to deflect from the urgent legal obligations Australia must uphold under the Genocide Convention, to shield Israel from legal accountability for its genocide and apartheid, and to normalise relations with the apartheid, genocidal state.

“The Australian Government’s announcement of its plan to recognise the State of Palestine is tantamount to it declaring its intention to entrench the status quo of Israeli genocide, apartheid and illegal occupation of Palestinians in their historic homeland,” APAN President Nasser Mashni said on Monday.

“Community outrage has erupted over Australia’s complicity in Israel genocide, and this announcement of recognition is a cynical political smokescreen, an empty gesture designed to shield Australia’s economic, military and diplomatic ties, protect Israel and enable this rogue state to continue its deadly war crimes with impunity.

“Recognition without decisive action is an insult to Palestinians, and nothing but a veneer that allows Israel to continue brutalising Palestinians with no consequences.

“Australia must stop enabling apartheid and genocide by cutting all military ties, imposing sanctions akin to those we’ve placed on Russia, and standing up for Palestinian self-determination in their historic homeland.”

A pay rise is coming for NSW workers in healthcare and hospital roles.

The cash boost of at least $10,000 over four years was brokered by the Health Services Union NSW (HSU NSW), and will be put to members on Monday, with the unanimous backing of HSU NSW’s Branch Committee of Management.

While the agreement covers allied health professionals, it also covers wards persons, cleaners, linen workers, administration staff, and pharmacy assistants working across major city hospitals, rural health services and community health centres.

A hospital assistant on $52,000 would get a $10,000 increase, landing on a $62,000 salary by 2027.

Read the full story here.

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Matt Thistlethwaite, has been forced to defend the Government’s stance on Israel’s presence in Gaza, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the position as “shameful”.

“We certainly recognise Israel’s right to exist, but we also want peace. I think that the world has been shocked by the images of children starving to death and that they’ve had enough,” he told Sky News.

While Mr Thistlethwaite said the Albanese Government wants to have a “good relationship” with Mr Netanyahu, he reiterated they were “going to stand up for the values upon which Australian society is based, and those are fairness and ensuring that people are fed and that children could live their lives”.

“Tens of thousands of Israelis marched in the streets and protested on the weekend against their Government. They’re saying enough is enough; that the starvation, the continued holding of hostages by Hamas, has to stop,” he added.

“The only way to work towards that is to work towards a ceasefire that involves the release of those hostages and (to) take this opportunity to permanently try and resolve this issue.”

President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, Jeremy Leibler, has expressed strong concern over reports that the Albanese Government is poised to formally recognise a Palestinian state.

“We are deeply concerned that the timing and substance of this policy reversal will embolden Hamas, further jeopardise the lives of Israeli hostages, prolong the war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and place more strain on the longstanding alliance between Australia and Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East,” he said.

Mr Leibler’s comments follow those of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who singled out Australia and other European nations for signalling they could formally recognise Palestinian statehood during a United Nations General Assembly in September.

Mr Netanyahu warned recognition of Palestine would not bring about peace in the Middle East.

Environment Minister Murray Watt has apologised to South Australians who believe not enough has been done to tackle the algal bloom crisis that’s killing vast swathes of marine life.

Tens of thousands of marine animals have been killed since an algal bloom was identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia in March, and has since spread along the coastline.

“I accept that South Australians think that Governments were too slow to respond to this event, and for that, I apologise,” Mr Watt told ABC News Breakfast on Monday morning.

“We are in uncharted waters as to how to deal with it and what support is needed. But when the South Australian Government made its request of us, we turned that around within 24 hours.”

He also touted the Government’s recently announced jointly funded $28 million package.

“We’ve provided half of a $28 million funding package to support the businesses who are being affected, to undertake more science and research and to make the community aware of the event and what the consequences are, and also to clean up the beaches.”

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