Thursday, 30 November 2023

Middle East conflict

Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Public and Active Transport) (10:04): Last week the Minister for Multicultural Affairs joined me in meeting with local mosque leaders in Dandenong. We were also joined by my federal colleague Julian Hill as well as the member for Narre Warren North and Lee Tarlamis in the other place. Leaders from the Emir Sultan Mosque, Omar Farooq Mosque and the Hallam mosque as well as the Victorian Afghan Associations Network spoke at length about the grief and pain currently being experienced by Australian Muslim communities as a consequence of the war in Gaza. We reflected on the appalling loss of civilian life in this conflict, including an estimated 6000 Palestinian children. We all agreed that the loss of civilian life, whether Israeli or Palestinian, is devastating and abhorrent – no question.

These are sensitive matters, and our priority as state MPs must always be to preserve the successful multiculturalism we enjoy here in Victoria. We must always seek to promote social cohesion, which is why of course as a representative of one of the largest Muslim communities in our state, it caused me some concern to hear local leaders talk of feeling sidelined and sometimes unable to publicly grieve. I want to put on record my deep grief for the loss of civilian life in this conflict, especially of the thousands of innocent children. I know this conflict long predates the awful, awful events of 7 October, but the scale of loss in this later chapter is clearly horrific for all of us. To my local Muslim leaders and the communities you serve: I hear you and my heart goes out to you. I also want to thank you for engaging in such a respectful dialogue.