Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding recognising Palestine as an independent state.

The Australian Labor Party supports the peace process and the prospect of successfully negotiating a two-state solution.

The previous Labor Government abstained from a United Nations vote giving Palestine non-member observer status. The Liberal government has since reversed this stance, being one of only three nations, along with the United States and Israel to vote against a United Nations resolution that called for a lasting and comprehensive peaceful solution.

The Australian Government must do all it can to help ease tensions in the area, including its role on the United Nations Security Council.

I strongly support a two-state solution and the successful negation to end conflict in the area.

Thank you for taking the time to write to me about this important matter.

Yours Sincerely