Labor’s Call For Palestine

Labor has hardened its stance on Palestine, putting up a motion at its Sydney state conference for it to be recognised as a sovereign and independent state “as a priority”.

The motion is less than some pro-Palestinian Labor members had sought but is a step up from the federal party position, which calls on the government to recognise Palestine as a state and expects the issue will be an “important priority”.

The move came as hundreds of noisy pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the conference at Sydney Town Hall.

Protesters were ordered to “yell with every fibre of their beings” after learning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had started speaking inside.

On Friday, Mr Albanese joined Canada and New Zealand to call for an “urgent” and “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza.

In delivering his keynote address yesterday, the prime minister gave a thinly veiled reference to protests outside his Marrickville office.

“We choose progress over protest,” he said. “We choose delivery and action over empty words, and our members choose to help vulnerable people inside elected offices – not intimidate them outside.”

Mr Albanese had long gone by the time the Palestine debate occurred late on Saturday.

Earlier, he received a rock star welcome as he arrived with his partner Jodie Haydon.