Motion: 'Debate Be Adjourned: 7 October Motion'

MOTION

‘DEBATE BE ADJOURNED: 7 OCTOBER MOTION’.

Tuesday 15 October 2024.

Mr NEWBURY (Brighton) (18:20):

I rise in support of allowing an opportunity for this Parliament to debate this important commemoration of the atrocities of 7 October. That is what the vote that will shortly take place is – allowing this Parliament an opportunity to not only debate the important Motion but also vote in commemoration of the atrocious events that happened on that day. It is a similar Motion in many ways to the one that was put through the Federal Parliament. This morning the Coalition sought to move a Motion, and the Government denied leave. I think the record stands clearly in relation to the Government denying the opportunity to debate this, and at no point in this week is there any time set aside by the Government to put through a Motion in this place to acknowledge the darkest day not only for Israel, not only for the Jewish people and not only for the friends of the Jewish people but more broadly for all good people in the Western world. All we have asked for is an opportunity to put through a Motion in this place and for this Parliament to recognise the atrocities.

One year ago, a number of us stood to speak in a bipartisan way on the atrocities of 7 October. It was almost one year ago today; it might have even been 15 October, one year ago. A number of speakers on that day said, ‘true friendship will not be measured by the speeches of today, but it will be measured by the friendship over time.’ It is easy at the time to deliver words that you think are appropriate, but for many since, they have talked out of both sides of their mouth. That is a fact, and the community knows it. People are talking out of both sides of their mouth, because this Parliament could have been provided an opportunity to commemorate not just the atrocities of those affected. The Member for Caulfield spoke eloquently about him, me and a number of others being in Israel and visiting the sites of the most tragic and horrific events, which are absolutely burnt into my memory for the rest of my life. Today, and this Parliament this week, should have been an opportunity to commemorate those horrific events. It is not something that you simply do once afterwards and say, ‘Well, tick that one off, and we don’t need to do it again.’ One year later there are still hostages being held, and they deserve to have people around the world speak on their behalf. We could have done that, and we could have done that in a bipartisan way. That is what the Coalition is seeking to do: to say to this Chamber, please, let us have an opportunity to not only debate but put through a Motion in recognition of those who have passed, of those who have been held hostage and also of the fight for the free Western world, which this fight is in the Middle East.

I know a number of Members have spoken about the recent commemoration event and the Jewish community’s feeling. The feeling in the community is so incredibly strong because we have seen a rise in antisemitism that is ripping at the fabric of the welcome that people in the Jewish community feel in our State. We should find every opportunity to stand up with them and say, ‘What you are feeling is wrong and we will never allow that.’ And that is what this, today, could have been an opportunity to stand up in friendship and walk in partnership with the Jewish community through a Motion of that kind. There is little wonder that the Foreign Minister, having accepted attendance at that event, was forced and shamed into not attending by the community. So strong is the community, both Jewish and broader, on the outrageous and disturbing acts of the Minister for Foreign Affairs over the last year – the lack of empathy and friendship shown by the Minister for Foreign Affairs – that the Foreign Minister was forced to not attend that event.

This would have been an important bipartisan opportunity, and it is disappointing the Government has not provided it.