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Australian Senate Censures GreensMehreen Faruqi Over Gaza Protest

Senators rebuked her 50-11, demanded an apology, barred her from delegations after she held a placard calling for sanctions on Israel during the parliament opening

Mehreen Faruqi, Anthony Albanese and damaged buildings in northern Gaza (Image: Reuters/AAP/Private Media)
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Senate leader Penny Wong accused Mehreen Faruqi of protesting for "attention" after she held a sign calling on the government to sanction Israel. The Greens senator said she would "not back down" from her call.

Overview

  • Senate leader Penny Wong’s motion passed 50-11 with Labor and the Coalition voting in favor and the Greens plus independent Fatima Payman opposing.
  • Faruqi held a sign reading “Gaza is starving. Words won’t feed them. Sanction Israel” as Governor-General Sam Mostyn addressed the upper house.
  • The motion requires Faruqi to apologise for her “unparliamentary conduct” and prohibits her from representing the Senate on official delegations during this term.
  • Faruqi accused colleagues of standing on the “wrong side of history” over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and vowed to continue her advocacy within parliament.
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Coalition leaders condemned in-chamber demonstrations as disrespectful to parliamentary procedures and defended the motion as necessary discipline.