On Thursday 22 August 2024, I spoke against Queensland Labor's subsidies to weapons manufacturers in Queensland connected to war crimes in Palestine.

You can read my speech below, or find the full transcript and video link in the official Queensland Parliament Record of Proceedings (Hansard).

I turn now to a broader global issue. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the genocide in Gaza. Last month the International Court of Justice declared that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is unlawful. The ICJ said that all nations were obligated to cease any aid or assistance contributing to Israel’s presence in Palestinian territories, including Gaza and the West Bank. In January the ICJ found that Israel is carrying out a plausible genocide and has since issued multiple orders that Israel has disregarded. Despite this, neither the federal nor state Labor governments have taken any action to ensure that we also are not aiding and assisting the occupation or the genocide.

Following my question to the Treasurer during estimates, it seems that the state government has taken no action or due diligence to investigate whether weapons companies receiving government funds here in Queensland are exporting weapons bound for Gaza. Despite the ICJ calling on all countries to cut any trade with Israel that entrenches the occupation of Palestine, the federal Labor government has continued to allow the export of weapons, parts and materials bound for Israel. The International Criminal Court has issued warrants of arrest for Israeli politicians, yet the federal Labor government has not taken any diplomatic or trade actions against Israel. All governments, including here in Queensland, have an active responsibility to withdraw any and all support for the Israeli government, the illegal occupation and the genocide. We are calling on the federal and state governments to cease their unconditional support for Israel and to actively push for an end to the genocide.