What does recognition of a Palestinian state mean in practice?
The move is largely symbolic – and it is not going to do anything to end the slaughter of Palestinians or ensure the basics of life are suddenly available in Gaza, or that Israel change any of its policies in regards to Palestine or Palestinians.
But there are some small changes that come with statehood.
One is better diplomatic representation. Instead of being an occupied territory, or having Palestinian ‘missions’ around the globe, countries can formalise their diplomatic relations with Palestine, with the nation able to open embassies. That goes two ways – nations could open embassies in Palestine (most likely the West Bank) and have a diplomatic presence that is separate to the Israeli presence.
It could also lead to countries reviewing their trade/agreements with Israel, again most likely with the settler colonies in the West Bank, where Israeli’s have forcibly displaced Palestinians from their home and land, with the backing of the Israeli government.
But until the UN Security Council says yes, Palestine won’t be granted full member status of the UN. And it’s consistently been the United States, mostly under the Biden administration, but continued under the Trump administration, which has vetoed the vote, even when their has been a majority.
Canadian prime minister Mark Carney has released his government’s official statement on recognising Palestine at the September meeting of the UN general assembly.
Canada has long been committed to a two-state solution — an independent, viable, and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security. My statement on Canada’s recognition of a Palestinian state:
The read out (the official minutes from an official phone call between leaders) between Anthony Albanese and UK Labour premier Keir Starmer has been released:
Overnight Prime Minister Albanese spoke to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer to discuss the situation in Gaza.
Prime Minister Albanese updated Prime Minister Starmer on Australia’s aid contribution and commitment to continue increasing aid to Gazans. He reiterated Australia’s long standing and strong support for a two state solution.
Prime Minister Starmer laid out the UK’s framework for taking forward recognition of Palestine as a driver for peace and the latest on the UK’s involvement in delivering aid.
The leaders agreed on the importance of using the international momentum to secure a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and the acceleration of aid, as well as ensuring Hamas did not play a role in a future state.
The leaders also discussed AUKUS and welcomed the progress being made by all partners on the program.
Both looked forward to speaking again soon at the earliest opportunity.
FYI NSW Labor premier – peaceful assembly is a democratic right. Even when it’s ‘inconvenient’
You may have seen Bill Browne’s post yesterday on Australia’s history of protest – you can find it by following his bluesky link if you missed it.
Australia has a proud tradition of disruptive protests — for @australiainstitute.org.au I look at eight protest movements that were controversial in their day but celebrated now. australiainstitute.org.au/post/the-pro…
Today, 47 organisations, including Human Rights Watch, have written an open letter to NSW Labor premier Chris Minns about his intervention in the Palestine Action Group’s planned March for Humanity protest across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Minns opposition to the protest has caused dissent even among his own ranks, with NSW Labor MPs pointing out it his not his decision to make.
The letter released to the premier today, is below:
Dear Premier,
We write concerning your stated opposition to Palestine Action Group’s planned protest “March for Humanity” across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, calling for greater action by the Australian government in the face of Israel’s blockade and starvation crisis in Gaza. We strongly urge you to reconsider opposing the march and instead work with assembly organisers to facilitate the exercise of the democratic right of protest under the protections in the Summary Offences Act and in line with the government’s international human rights obligations.
Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Australia is a party, requires all state parties to guarantee and respect the right to peaceful assembly and to create an enabling environment within their jurisdictions for the exercise and enjoyment of that right. Governments and their agencies are required to protect all forms of peaceful protest regardless of where protest happens or what form it takes. These protections are owed to all people and must be provided to everyone free from discrimination of any kind. Australia has an obligation to comply with international human rights treaties to which it is party and to realise these principles in legislation.
Over 150 community organisations, including the Australian Council of Social Service, Community Legal Centres NSW, Australian Services Union NSW ACT, and NSW Council for Civil Liberties, have called for Australian governments to respect these fundamental protest rights through the Declaration of our Right to Protest.
Per the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) in a general comment, restrictions on peaceful assembly must be “necessary and proportionate in the context of a society based on democracy, the rule of law, political pluralism and human rights, as opposed to them being merely reasonable or expedient.” The government’s opposition to the Palestine Action Group’s proposed rally, with the Premier stating “the NSW government cannot support a protest of this scale and nature taking place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge”, does not appear to be necessary and proportionate.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge has a rich history of democratic community action, including the 2000 Walk for Reconciliation and the 2023 World Pride march. Government agencies have previously facilitated the shutdown of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for other community and industry purposes, including a half-day closure for the filming of The Fall Guy in January 2023 and a seven-hour closure for the World Pride march. Both of these closures covered peak hour commuting times, requiring the diversion of significant traffic, while the proposed rally on Sunday takes place in the middle of the day during a significantly shorter time period. The organisers have also offered to hold the rally at a later date to allow for traffic planning.
Seeking to shut down this rally would be a serious departure from the NSW State and Police’s responsibility to uphold the democratic right of protest. We urge your government to facilitate the exercise of democratic freedoms in collaboration with community groups and support the holding of this protest.
“The New South Wales authorities have an obligation to uphold the right to peaceful assembly,” said Annabel Hennessy, Australia researcher at Human Rights Watch. “International law recognizes that protests by their nature may cause some disruption to ordinary life, but authorities need to accommodate them unless they impose a disproportionate burden.”
Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, said the latest Closing the Gap results ‘point to a lack of government follow-through, not a lack of solutions’.
The update makes it clear that these results are not the failings of our children, families or communities. They are the failings of governments who continue to fall short on their obligations under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap,” Liddle said.
Early childhood education and care is a foundational building block for lifelong outcomes but we’re seeing a decline in children being developmentally on track which tells us that access alone isn’t enough.
The update shows that when governments work in true partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, we see real change. Progress in areas like land rights and employment shows what’s possible when communities are empowered and governments step up.
These improvements haven’t happened by chance but have been driven through governments working directly with our communities and backing Aboriginal-led solutions.”
Pat Turner AM, the Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, which represents Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, said the results show that ‘when Aboriginal community-controlled organisations are treated as partners and properly resourced, they deliver real results’.
Governments need to stop, take stock, and change their approach,” Turner said. We now have two independent reports telling us the same thing: where our organisations lead and are properly supported, we see progress.
But when governments fail to meet their commitments, the gap doesn’t just remain, it widens.
Turner said no one was asking for special treatment – just for it to be equitable.
What’s important for Australians to understand is that Aboriginal community-controlled organisations are not fringe services.
They are trusted, place-based service providers — just like any other government-funded organisations — but designed by and for our people. They succeed because they are grounded in culture, local knowledge and accountability to our communities.
We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for a fair share. When we get that, we deliver.”
Australians want to kick political parties out of postal voting – poll
Glenn Connley
Australians overwhelmingly want to keep political parties out of the postal voting process, according to new polling conducted for The Australia Institute.
Currently, political parties are allowed to send postal vote application forms bundled with information about a candidate. The forms are then returned to the political party, which forwards them to the Australian Electoral Commission.
The new poll has found that a vast majority of Australians would rather voters send their voting paper directly to the AEC.
Key findings:
Three in four Australians (75%) support requiring postal vote applications to be sent directly to the Australian Electoral Commission.
A majority of voters across all voting intentions support requiring postal vote applications to be sent directly to the Australian Electoral Commission.
banning postal vote forms from being bundled with other material and
requiring that forms go straight to the AEC, not routed through a political party’s headquarters.
“Political parties have inserted themselves into the postal voting process, circulating materials that appear official but actually harvest the person’s information for the party,” said Bill Browne, Director of the Australia Institute’s Democracy & Accountability Program.
“Australia has one of the best electoral systems in the world, but it depends on trust in the integrity of the electoral process. When voters receive seemingly official postal vote forms bundled with party-political material, it risks confusion and distrust.
“Political parties’ involvement in the postal vote process is the number one source of complaints during election campaigns, according to the Australian Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission has warned Australians to ‘think twice’ before filling in these forms.
“The Parliament should follow the recommendations of the multi-party Electoral Matters Committee and remove political party involvement in the postal vote process.”
Canadian prime minister Mark Carney has just announced that Canada will move to recognising Palestine as a state as he does not believe a negotiated settlement as part of a peace process is possible.
The deepening suffering of civilians leaves no room for delay – [what is needed is a] coordinated international action to support peace, security and the dignity of human life. Preserving a two-state solution means standing with all people who choose peace over violence or terrorism, it means honouring their innate desire for peaceful coexistence, peace coexistence of Israeli and Palestinian states as the only roadmap for a secure and prosperous long-term future.
ABC News Breakfast has had a little side conversation going on about theme music this morning – the best theme songs accompanying art, movies etc.
Chalmers is asked about his and you know he wants to say something US hip hop. But this week, politically, is about AUSTRALIAN music, given the Hottest 100 Australian songs Triple J played on the weekend and also, Chalmers is a Queenslander.
So there are only two right answers. He gets one of them:
.
I think the best theme song now that you put me on the spot, I think the best theme song I can remember is when Powderfinger, These Days kicks in during that wonderful Australian movie Two Hands. I think These Days by Powderfinger came in number 14 on the weekend in the triple j Hottest 100 Australian songs. Like everyone who loves Powderfinger, I think that should have been higher, but that’s an amazing theme song and incredible movie, Two Hands it is, Heath Ledger, Brian Brown, all wonderful Australian actors and a wonderful song by an Australian group, Powderfinger.
The other right answer is Untouched by the Veronicas. FIGHT ME.
