The newly elected MP Basem Abdo has told parliament in his first speech the government should make a “historic commitment” to international law, human rights and peace, saying Palestinians are always “made to be strangers in their own homes”.
Abdo, who is of Palestinian background, has spoken of his family’s journey from Kuwait to Jordan during the first Gulf war before settling in Australia, telling parliament of the “intergenerational dispossession” of Palestinians.
Coming soon after the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, had told parliament of his distress at seeing images from Gaza, Abdo’s speech did not explicitly mention Israel’s military campaign in the occupied territory, but it carried unmistakeable references to the growing humanitarian crisis.
“International law matters. The international rules-based order matters,” Abdo said on Monday night.
“Human rights matter. The right to peace, justice and recognition matters. Deserving of an historic commitment.”