Dutton blasts PM over bipartisan failure on Oct 7 motion

Peter Dutton has blasted Anthony Albanese for the wording of an October 7 terrorist attack condolence motion, declining to back the motion because it goes “well beyond” balance and instead seeks Labor’s “own political domestic advancement”.

“The words included in the motion … stresses the need to break the cycle of violence and supports international efforts to de-escalate for a ceasefire in Gaza and in Lebanon, and for lasting peace and security for Israel, Palestine, Lebanese and all people in the region,” the Opposition Leader said.

“There are other sections here which go well beyond the intent of what should be a motion to mark the loss of life of 1,200 people on the first anniversary. That’s what this motion was to be about, but of course the Prime Minister is trying to speak out of both sides of his mouth, and that is not something that we will support in relation to this debate.”

Mr Dutton said the motion went beyond “ just words of comfort and words of recognition in relation to October 7th” and that the Prime Minister was “trying to please all people in this debate” and was an “extension of the way in which the Prime Minister has conducted the debate in himself over the course of the last 12 months”.

Mr Dutton repeated the Coalition accusation that the Albanese government had abandoned a long-held bipartisan position on Israel.

“You’re citing Biden, France – Hawke, Keating, you don’t mention them, you don’t mention Rudd, you don’t mention Gillard,” he said.

“There has been a position of bipartisanship on these issues and your predecessors would have had the decency to respect the Jewish community in a way that you have not done today.

“And for that Prime Minister, you should stand condemned. We have put to this Prime Minister a more than reasonable position and the Prime Minister has rejected that position for his own political domestic advancement. And that has been recognised by millions of Australians and for that, the Prime Minister should be condemned.”