The Australian Muslim Advocacy Network (AMAN) has called out political leadership that it says harms the Australian Muslim community and the broader Palestinian community of all faiths.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s statement to SkyNews on 9 October 2023 said the government should support Israeli retaliation without any restraint, disregarding civilian life.
“This extreme stance is outside the bounds of international norms and the rule of law. It also devalues Palestinian lives, putting them and anyone associated with them in danger in Palestine and Australia,” said a spokesperson for AMAN.
AMAN said his remarks constituted “dangerous speech” because it gives a license for indiscriminate and hate-based violence.
Mr Dutton also described the crisis as ‘Israel’s 9/11’, a move AMAN says has “fanned the flames of prejudice”.
AMAN also found the Prime Minister’s response harmful to health and wellbeing.
“Prime Minister Albanese’s response affirming Israel’s right to self-defence and showing solidarity with the Occupying power, while showing no support for Palestinians, denied many grieving communities public empathy or support.”
Hundreds of Palestinian civilians lost their lives this week following the attack by Hamas which took hundreds of Israeli lives. Israel’s bombing of Gaza followed widespread support for Israel among US allies.
AMAN said the Australian Government had made conditions more dangerous for civilians by not calling for war crimes to be prosecuted.
“Regrettably, Australian governments have historically escalated dangers for Palestinians and Israelis by opposing ICC investigations into potential war crimes, compounding an environment of lawlessness.”
AMAN confirmed that there have been reported hate incidents against the Australian Muslim community.
AMAN has called on Australian leaders to take responsibility for the effects of their actions and speech.
“The detrimental effects on health, well-being and safety are significant and ongoing.”
Dutton’s refusal to advise Israeli restraint is not surprising. He was certainly not concerned for the welfare of our First Nations people when he walked out of the National Apology to the Stolen Generation.
He was not concerned for social harmony when he told the world that in Melbourne we feared to go out to dinner because of African gangs, and he showed his concern for our Pacific brethren when he made jokes with his Liberal colleagues about rising sea levels, with the microphone on.
His lack of empathy is remarkable and not a characteristic we should expect in someone who wants to lead the country.