Part 6/9:
Switching gears to international politics, the politician addressed the question of whether Australia should follow other countries like the UK and France in declaring a state of Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September. Support for this move was critiqued on the basis of security concerns and the ongoing conflict in the region.
He firmly opposed the idea, asserting that until Hamas—designated as a terrorist organization—has been removed, such symbolic gestures are disconnected from reality. “Who are you going to deal with? Hamas,” he stated, warning that dealing with the situation without addressing the fundamental threat posed by Hamas is dangerous.