Albanese answers questions on sanctions

A former cabinet minister is urging Australia to sanction Israel for blocking food from people in Gaza, ramping up pressure on Labor ahead of an international conference aimed at advancing Palestinian statehood.

Labor backbencher Ed Husic, who was the first Muslim federal cabinet minister, is calling on his government to prepare targeted sanctions against Israeli officials overseeing the military campaign in Gaza against Hamas.

But today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dealt with sanctions when he spoke to media in Brisbane.

A journalist asked him if Australia would join other countries in considering sanctions against Israel.

He responded: “No, we follow our own path and Australia determines our own foreign policy. And we’ve been very consistent the whole way through. And what people don’t say when they put forward ideas like this is what that means. We currently have, for example, unlike some of those countries, we don’t provide military assets to Israel or to that region, so we’re in different circumstances.

But we make it clear as we have consistently, we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see hostages released, we see Hamas has no role in the future, but we also want to see humanitarian aid delivered to people in Gaza. So we’ve been very consistent and, you know, we as a Government will continue to act in that way.

The journalist persisted in questioning the prime minister about sanctions.

Anthony Albanese responded: ” Well, what are the sanctions you’re suggesting.”

The journalist said that he wasn’t sure.

” Exactly. That’s the point,” the prime minister told the journalist. “You’re not sure. And it’s not a criticism of you, it’s just a reflection of the reality. And sound bites can make a difference. What really makes a difference though. They make a difference in rhetoric. What we’re interested in is substance. What we want is peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. We’ve made it clear that we support a two-state solution. That’s been bipartisan position for a long period of time.”