Angus McFarland of the Australian Services Union NSW and ACT moved to bring a debate forward about protest laws, telling Labor’s rank and file that scenes at a pro-Palestine protest at Town Hall in February was evidence the government’s crackdown was not working. “Whatever your views are on the issues being protested, I don’t think anyone could look at those scenes and honestly conclude that that reflects the kind of social cohesion that we should aspire to,” he said. Road Minister Jenny Aitchison, of the
Right faction, rebuffed the attempt at moving the debate as a “disgrace” and accused members of the Left of attempting to silence the bush by prioritising protest issues over the Country Labor items. The motion ultimately failed. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese received a hero’s welcome from all but a handful of pro-Palestine members, who unfurled flags in protest during his speech. One woman marched through the conference floor draped in a Palestine flag but remained silent and Albanese’s speech was not interrupted.
NSW Labor, pokies reforms, protest laws, pro-Palestine, Town Hall protest, Angus McFarland, Jenny Aitchison, Anthony Albanese
So basically they argued about protest laws… and then nothing changed. Cool cool.
Pro-Palestine flags getting brought up at a Labor conference is gonna make people mad no matter what. I’m not even sure what the “motion” was but sounds like Left vs Right inside the party again.
Wait, I thought Albanese’s speech got interrupted? Like I saw a clip somewhere where people were yelling. Maybe it was another event? Also “bush”?? Are they talking about the countryside thing or did someone just say that for vibes.
It’s so obvious the crackdown isn’t working if people are still out there doing it. But then they say it’s “disgrace” and accuse the Left of silencing the Country Labor items? That sounds like they’re just protecting the pokies stuff and pretending it’s about social cohesion.