Husic lashes Labor culture after push for Gaza debate fails

A push to recognise claims of genocide in Gaza failed to gain enough support for a debate on the floor of Labor's national conference, sparking criticism of the party's internal culture. Ed Husic's bid for a conference debate on Gaza genocide failed as delegates backed the party's platform. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts ) Labor delegates have endorsed the party's platform on Israel and Palestine without a floor fight after Ed Husic failed to secure support to debate his amendment.

Mr Husic criticised Labor's internal culture, arguing the party has become too reluctant to openly disagree. Labor's 50th national conference has concluded and the newly adopted platform will guide party policy for the next three years.

Labor MP Ed Husic was unable to secure a seconder for his proposed resolution on Israel and Palestine in the final hours of the 50th ALP National Conference on Saturday. The outspoken backbencher said he was "surprised" at the energy factional powerbrokers had applied to preventing open debate and declared he did not "give a shit" if senior colleagues put him in the freezer for speaking out on contentious issues. Delegates at the conference instead voted to adopt positions on Israel, Palestine and Hamas that broadly aligned with the Albanese government's view, though have been criticised by the Israeli embassy.

MPs Josh Burns, who is Jewish, and Basem Abdo, the son of Palestinian refugees, both spoke in favour of the platform in what was intended as a show of unity. Josh Burns and Basem Abdo both supported the party's platform. ( AAP: Mick Tsikas ) The conference concluded in Adelaide on Saturday afternoon without any major stoushes on the floor as the 400 elected delegates voted to adopt the party's 2026 National Platform.

Mr Husic had sought to amend the platform to acknowledge a United Nations inquiry that determined Israeli authorities had "deliberately targeted Palestinian children, resulting in genocide and atrocity crimes in the Gaza Strip and war crimes in the West Bank". His resolution was initially seconded by the Maritime Union of Australia, but Mr Husic revealed the left-faction union had withdrawn support on Saturday morning. "I have been surprised at the extraordinary amount of energy that has been applied to stop this, as opposed to talking about this, being able to have discussions and better set it out, Mr Husic said.

In the lead-up to the triennial conference, Mr Husic had spoken out on a range of issues, including Labor's support for the AUKUS submarine deal, a tax on gas and the Middle East. Asked if it had been a "strategic" error to spread his focus, potentially at the expense of securing support for a debate on Israel and Palestine, Mr Husic said it was a "fair question". "I've been consistent on the things I really care about and I've spoken up in that way, he said.

Ed Husic spoke out about the AUKUS submarine deal, a tax on gas and the Middle East ahead of the conference. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts ) When pressed on whether the senior ministers such as Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong had frozen him out from platform discussions about Israel and Palestine, Mr Husic replied: "If they put me in the freezer, I don't give a shit. Senior Labor sources pushed back on the idea Mr Husic had been iced out, suggesting he had not sought to discuss the matter with the prime minister during the three-day conference.

Mr Husic believed the "divisive" Rudd-Gillard era had led to a cooling effect on debate within the party. "People are almost traumatised into a position that … anything that looks like a debate is a schism, a difference, a divide that means that the government might topple over, he said. Mr Husic said there was a lesson for Labor to learn as One Nation gathered support from voters who believed the party would stand up for what they thought was "right" for the country.

"I think the big test for us,as one of the big parties, is to be able to show that we're willing to take [voters] with us and not jam the lines of the day in people's ears, he said. Brandishing his ALP membership card, Mr Husic said when people signed up to the party they "didn't sign up for the status quo". "The party of change — change sometimes involves conversations and you need to bring people together, he said. Asked if Labor was still the "right fit" for him, Mr Husic said "yes".

As Mr Husic was addressing the media, Mr Burns and Mr Abdo walked onto the conference stage together in a show of support between the Jewish and Palestinian communities. "We stand here to demonstrate what is possible when people choose to work together, and that the Australian Labor Party has room for both of us and for the communities we love, Mr Burns said."