CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Ms BOELE (Bradfield) (09:29): My electorate office in Bradfield has been inundated with emails about Gaza, and those emails are coming in on a daily basis from people of all ages and backgrounds imploring me to speak out and to urge the government to do more to end the crisis. I selected the following constituent's email, received on 26 September, as it is imbued, in my opinion, with the sentiment of so many constituents' emails received.

I'm reading parts of it out now: Dear Ms Boele, The intent of my letter is to express my grief and dismay at the atrocities unfolding in Gaza. I am a Jew, living in your electorate. Since 2 March 2025, Israel has blocked humanitarian aid into Gaza, with only a trickle entering in the past few days.

Every major UN body and humanitarian agency has confirmed what is now undeniable: this is a man-made famine, engineered as a weapon of war. Senior Israeli officials have made clear that this is a deliberate policy. Children are dying of hunger.

The devastation is not incidental; it is intentional. As Jews—many, including myself, descendants of Holocaust survivors—we know what it means when the world looks away. We cannot be silent while these crimes are carried out in our name.

The Australian government should be outwardly committed to human dignity, justice, and the preservation of life. Australia doesn't need to be a major player to show moral leadership. The longer we fail to act, the more damage is done here at home.

Each day of silence deepens the sense of betrayal among communities who see this government—rightly or wrongly—as indifferent to mass starvation and war crimes. Jewish, Muslim, Christian and multicultural Australians alike are watching our government's response. The trust we have all worked so hard to build is at risk.

Internationally, Australia's credibility is on the line. If we are serious about upholding a rules-based international order, we cannot rely only on words to express our condemnation of war crimes in Gaza. I ask you to call for immediate action by the Australian government.

If we all stand together, there can be strength in numbers. If we do nothing, who will support these people? Please work with the Albanese government to ensure that Australia's commitment to human rights, justice and equality is reflected in our country's domestic and international policies and actions.

That is the end of the statement, and this is what I've committed to do.