27th Jun 2018, 5:40 PM – Senate Motions - Palestine: Australian Aid - Scrutinise and suspend

The same number of senators voting for and against the motion, which means it failed. It was introduced by Senator Fraser Anning (Qld).

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes the funding and promotion of terrorism by the Palestinian Authority;

(b) acknowledges that the sponsorship, advocacy and enabling of terrorism and acts of violence against innocent civilians is not consistent with Australian values;

(c) notes the lack of transparency in the use of funds received by the Palestinian Authority from Australia, both directly and through contributions to the United Nations;

(d) welcomes the letter from the Foreign Minister of 29 May 2018 to the Palestinian Authority, raising concerns over and seeking assurances that Australian funding does not in any way enable or encourage acts of violence against Israel;

(e) recognises that, to achieve lasting peace, the so-called ‘Palestinian Authority Martyrs’ Fund’ must cease; and

(f) calls on the Australian Government to:

(i) maintain scrupulous oversight of Australian aid to the Palestinian territories,

(ii) demand proper investigation of the content and delivery of education services provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and

(iii) immediately suspend aid to the Palestinian territories, if inconsistencies continue.