Furious Labor accuse Greens of ‘peddling misinformation’ about the war in Gaza

An angry Anthony Albanese has accused the Greens of ‘deliberately and knowingly’ spreading misinformation about the war in Gaza and demanded its MPs condemn protests against MPs’ offices.

Employment Minister Tony Burke also slammed the Greens, saying their leader, Adam Bandt, was knowingly spreading “deliberate misinformation.”

Responding to a question from Independent MP Sophie Scamps about voters’ concerns about social cohesion, Albanese said communities across Australia were on “bed rest” about what is happening in the Middle East and that “enough is enough”.

“Each of us has a responsibility to keep our community safe. Social cohesion is a national asset for all of us. We all have a responsibility to uphold and defend it,” he said.

“It is unacceptable that disinformation is being knowingly and deliberately spread by some Green members involved in demonstrations, outside offices and knowingly misrepresenting motions tabled in this parliament.”

An angry Anthony Albanese (pictured) has accused the Greens of ‘deliberately and knowingly’ spreading misinformation about the war in Gaza and demanded its MPs condemn protests against MPs’ offices.

Employment Minister Tony Burke also slammed the Greens, saying their leader, Adam Bandt (pictured), was knowingly spreading “deliberate misinformation.”

The offices of several high-profile Labor MPs and the US consulate in Victoria have been vandalized in recent weeks by pro-Palestinian protesters, including Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, who sprayed red paint on the facade of his electorate office in Melbourne.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and other Labor MPs and senators have complained that Greens MPs have legitimized anti-Semitism by speaking at protests organized by militant pro-Palestinian groups.

Some MPs have reportedly requested security advice and closed their offices in response to concerns about their safety.

The Prime Minister said the aspirations of the legitimate Palestinian community are being “undermined” by people engaging in activities that “completely alienate the Australian public”.

“Attacking people because they are Jewish, because people disagree with some of the actions of the Netanyahu government, is completely unacceptable,” he said.

“As political leaders, we have a responsibility to lower the temperature – not stoke it.”

Speaking on an issue of leniency, opposition leader Dutton backed Mr Albanese’s call in a rare show of support and condemned protesters who targeted MPs, calling the reported rise in anti-Semitism “completely unacceptable”.

“Those who are trying to add fuel to this fire for their own political purposes and their own political advancement deserve the condemnation of this chamber,” he said.

“We are now seeing the offices of elected MPs being covered in red paint, with despicable messages of hatred, discrimination and anti-Semitism, and this must be condemned.

“And the Greens should be condemning it rather than condoning it… We need to unite and ensure we condemn the unacceptable levels of anti-Semitism we see playing out in our streets.”

Protesters march during a pro-Palestinian rally outside the Victoria State Library in Melbourne, Sunday, June 2, 2024

Police escort a woman during a ‘Never Again is Now’ rally against anti-Semitism outside the Victoria Parliament in Melbourne, Sunday, May 19, 2024

Mr Dutton added that “as a Chamber we will take all the measures we need to ensure that we condemn these acts of anti-Semitism in our country.

“And the Greens political party is rightly and rightly condemned today.”

Mr Bandt denounced the debate as a ‘desperate attempt to denigrate Labour’s complicity and support for the invasion’.

“I will not be lectured about peace and violence by people who supported the invasion of Gaza,” he said.

‘Children are dying because the Israeli army has caused a famine.’

On Tuesday, Victorian Labor MP Michelle Ananda-Raja accused the Greens of fueling violence in Australia over the Gaza war.

‘I was sitting in this room when the leader of the Greens political party… accused Labor MPs of being complicit in genocide.

Activists with banners gather during a Pro-Palestine rally outside the 2024 Victorian Labor state conference in Melbourne, Saturday, May 18, 2024

Pro-Palestinian supporters march along Port Melbourne Beach during a ‘national day of action’ on May 25, 2024

“Within hours, an online campaign was launched calling for a ‘national day of action against Labor MPs complicit in genocide,’” she said.

“Those were the exact words. The next day, offices were destroyed and made unusable. The staff was scared. Scarce resources such as police, AFP, cleaners and tradies were diverted.

“The words spoken in this room are ricocheting across the country, tearing apart our social fabric, and the weapon is being fired here.

“The Greens with their signals are summoning hordes in masks and keffiyehs, armed with their weapon of choice: self-righteousness, because it is the perfect justification for everything, even incitement to violence.”