The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network calls for the government to end its obstruction of accountability, and meet its legal obligations to prevent genocide, by allowing an inquiry into the Red Lines Package.
The call comes after yesterday’s Senate Estimates hearings exposed the Australian government’s refusal to be transparent about its legal justifications for supporting Israel while it commits genocide in Gaza and illegally occupies Palestinian territory.
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe pressed Foreign Minister Penny Wong and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) on Australia’s international legal obligations, and the government’s blocking of an inquiry into the Red Lines Package – key legislative reforms aimed at holding arms companies accountable, divesting from illegal settlements, and stopping exports linked to war crimes.
Senator Thorpe also questioned the government on its opposition to the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner’s database, which tracks companies complicit in maintaining, developing and consolidating Israel’s illegal settlements.
In a revealing exchange, Wong and DFAT repeatedly refused to provide clear answers on:
- Legal advice on genocide complicity: Senator Thorpe demanded transparency on whether Australia is complicit in genocide, and where the government’s legal advice was coming from. DFAT refused to disclose who provided the advice, when it was received, or its nature. When pressed on whether the government was claiming public interest immunity, Wong declined to answer.
- Rejecting UN accountability mechanisms: DFAT officials confirmed that Australia opposed the UN database that tracks businesses complicit in Israel’s illegal settlement expansion, labelling the widely respected accountability mechanism “highly contentious.”
- Opposing divestment from illegal Israeli settlements: The government reiterated that while it considers Israeli settlements illegal, it refuses to support divestment from companies profiting from and helping to entrench those settlements, claiming this refusal reflected its opposition to Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS).
As of June 2024, Australia’s Future Fund invested a combined total of $102,071,187 in seven companies listed on the UN database: Airbnb, Expedia Group, Israel Discount Bank, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, Alstrom SA, Booking Holdings Inc and Motorola Solutions Inc.
That Australia’s sovereign wealth fund continues investing in these companies directly violates an International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (July 2024), which ruled that all states and international organisations must not recognise or aid in maintaining Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine.
It’s also been reported that since October 2023, the Australian Government has invested at least $22 billion ($13.785 billion US) into defence companies on a UN warning list for transferring weapons to Israel.
Yesterday’s Senate Estimates exchange confirms what many already suspect – the Australian government is shielding itself from public and legal scrutiny, while actively enabling Israeli apartheid, illegal occupation and war crimes.
The government’s refusal to engage with and support an inquiry into the Red Lines Package, its opposition to divestment from companies that have been internationally recognised to be integral to maintaining Israel’s illegal occupation, and its lack of transparency on legal advice all point to a policy of complicity, rather than accountability.
Australia cannot claim to uphold international law while refusing to act on genocide, apartheid and illegal occupation.
The government must immediately disclose the legal basis for its position and allow an inquiry into the Red Lines Package, so the community can judge for itself whether its government is meeting its own legal obligations to prevent Israel’s genocide and end its occupation.
Comments attributed to APAN President Nasser Mashni:
This Senate Estimates session has confirmed that the Australian government is actively shielding itself from scrutiny while enabling Israel’s apartheid, occupation and war crimes.
Australia claims Israel’s settlements are illegal, yet refuses to divest from the companies propping them up. This is not just hypocrisy – it’s active complicity.
Furthermore, since October 2023, the government has poured at least $22 billion into defence companies flagged by the UN for transferring weapons to Israel. While Palestinians face genocide, our government is funnelling billions into the very companies arming their oppressors.
By choosing to continue investing government money in companies benefitting from and entrenching Israel’s illegal settlements, the Australian government is prioritising the protection of profit over Palestinian lives, fundamental human rights and international law.
If the Australian government supports transparency and accountability, it must come clean on whether it will refer the Red Lines Package for inquiries.