Opposition criticises Prime Minister over calls for a ceasefire in motion condemning October 7 attacks

QUESTION TIME

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, October 8, 2024. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) Source: AAP / MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has criticised the Prime Minister for calling for a ceasefire in a motion condemning the October 7 attack. It comes as politicians have marked the first anniversary of the attack in vigils across Australia.


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TRANSCRIPT:

A standing ovation for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

"The Coalition government, under my leadership, will restore moral clarity and act with moral courage. We will make it clear that the law must be enforced readily, not reluctantly, against those inciting hatred and violence. We will hold a judicial inquiry into antisemitism on our university campuses, because the Jewish community deserves no less."

The applause was part of the warm reception he received as he attended a vigil in the eastern Sydney suburb of Vaucluse - marking the first anniversary of the October 7 attack.

It was a stark difference to the Prime Minister, heckled outside a vigil in Melbourne.

"Do we have some politicians in the vicinity who need to grow some balls?"

Issues in the Middle East are dominating another sitting week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has moved a motion in the House of Representatives condemning Hamas, and the October 7 attacks.

"I move that the House of Representatives reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of Hamas' terror attacks on Israel, which took place on 7th of October, 2023, in which more than 1200 innocent Israelis were killed."

The motion has called for a release of all remaining hostages, and condemned antisemitism in all its forms.

It's recognised the number of civilian deaths in Gaza since the start of the Israel/Hamas war, calling for regional de-escalation and a ceasefire, and for international law to be observed.

The Coalition opposed the motion.

Peter Dutton says he tried to work with the Prime Minister's Office to come to a bipartisan agreement over its wording, but an agreement wasn't reached.

"There has been a position of bipartisanship on these issues, and your predecessors would have had the decency to respect the Jewish community in a way that you have not done today. And for that Prime Minister, you should stand condemned. We have put to this Prime Minister a more than reasonable position, and the Prime Minister has rejected that position for his own political domestic advancement."

Meanwhile outside Parliament House protesters have gathered, calling on the government to act against Israel, with at least 42,000 Palestinians killed since the start of the conflict.

They've been joined by crossbench politicians, including Fatima Payman.

"When is enough? When is it enough? How many more need to be killed before this government has the courage to call it for what it is, to call it a genocide, to demand an end to this violence, to ensure that there's a ceasefire, to make sure that sanctions are imposed and trade deals and ties are cut."

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