Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sought to balance the sensitive issue of the October 7 attacks in Israel and Palestine, delivering a motion intended to commemorate the victims on both sides. However, opposition leader Peter Dutton showed once again his divisive political style, choosing to condemn Albanese’s efforts and push a narrative that highlights his lack of bipartisanship and disregard for social cohesion.
We explore how Australia’s political landscape is deeply intertwined with the Middle East conflict, despite claims to the contrary. Both major political parties, Labor and the Liberal Party, have taken starkly different stances, with the Liberal Party displaying extreme support for Israel. Meanwhile, the Labor government finds itself in a difficult position, trying to navigate this ongoing crisis while maintaining balance domestically and internationally.
The episode also takes a closer look at the role of the Australian Greens, who have been critical of Israel’s actions and consistent in their stance on Palestine. Max Chandler-Mather, a key figure in the Greens, recently spoke out in Parliament, reflecting a growing faction of Australians who refuse to be silenced on the issue.
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Closer to home, we turn our attention to New South Wales, where Premier Chris Minns has taken a controversial stance by suggesting that weekly pro-Palestinian protests in Sydney should be shut down due to the financial costs they impose on the state. Over the past year, these protests have reportedly cost the NSW government $5 million, prompting Minns to call for an end to the demonstrations. However, critics argue that this move is an attempt to silence dissenting voices, particularly those from the pro-Palestinian and Islamic communities. We explore the double standards at play – why the Minns government tolerates other types of protests, but not these, and what it says about freedom of speech in Australia.
We also examine Peter Dutton’s political opportunism, his lack of nuance, and his growing appeal to far-right Zionist groups, as well as the implications for Australian politics moving forward. Will Dutton’s right-wing strategy pay off in the next federal election? Or will Albanese’s cautious approach, despite criticism, resonate with a majority of Australians?
Beyond the two major parties, we also discuss the rise of new political movements, such as Australia’s Voice, a party founded by former Labor Senator Fatima Payman. This new party, which has already drawn significant negative media attention, represents a continuing shift away from Australia’s traditional two-party system. In this episode, we assess the viability of this new party and the broader trend of Australians looking to third parties, independents, and movements like the teals and Greens for alternatives to the status quo.
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Albanese v Dutton and the political struggle over Israel and Palestine