We need to join the majority of countries around the world that are calling for a ceasefire. I seek leave to table the petitions relating to a ceasefire in Gaza. Ceasefire now. Release the hostages. End the occupation.
Mr BANDT (Melbourne—Leader of the Australian Greens) (13:39): Over 116,000 people around this country, including health and medical workers, some of whom are in the gallery right now, have signed petitions calling on the government to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. There are over two million people in Gaza living in an area half the size of Canberra—40 per cent of them are children—and because of the blockade they are walled in. They have nowhere to go, so when there were plans to launch an invasion of Gaza, the most densely populated place on the planet, it was obvious that it would lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. Yet, as bombs began to rain down on Gaza, Labor and the Liberals backed the invasion. On top of the 1,200 Israeli dead, there are now over 11,000 dead in Gaza and over 4,000 children dead, and they’re just the ones we know of, because they have lost the ability to count how many people are now dying. There is no food, no water and no electricity. Doctors are performing caesareans by torchlight on mothers without pain relief. Premature babies are unable to be incubated. Yet, even as these horrors unfold—even as entire families lie beneath the rubble—our Labor government still will not call for a ceasefire.
We need to join the majority of countries around the world that are calling for a ceasefire. I seek leave to table the petitions relating to a ceasefire in Gaza. Ceasefire now. Release the hostages. End the occupation.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ): Has the petition been approved by the Petitions Committee?
Mr BANDT: No.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: So you’re now seeking leave for the document to be presented. Is leave granted?
Leave granted.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The document will now be forwarded to the Petitions Committee for its consideration and will be accepted subject to confirmation by the committee that it conforms with the standing orders.