STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr WILKIE (Clark) (16:06): I bring to the chamber today a petition signed by 124,665 Australians calling on the Australian government to end Australia's supply of weapons to Israel and to oppose illegal Israeli settlement. The petition, run by Amnesty International Australia, reveals that Australians know the government is fudging when it claims that Australia is not involved in arms trade with Israel, and it demonstrates a clear public appetite for Australia to do the right thing and ensure that our weapons, components and resources do not contribute to violations of international law, including war crimes and genocide.

The steps the petition asks of the government are clear and achievable: to impose a national arms embargo on Israel, to end any Australian involvement in the supply of weapons to Israel, to oppose unlawful Israeli settlements and to establish a transparent national arms-control system with robust monitoring and end-user verification mechanisms. Australia has often had an outsized influence in creating and preserving international law.

The red lines package, which I supported the introduction of today, would be an opportunity for the government to respond to this petition and to take up the mantle of global leadership on international humanitarian law once again. I urge the government to progress it. I seek leave to table a copy of the Amnesty International petition.

Leave granted. Mr WILKIE: I thank the government.