A storm is brewing within the Labor Party, with some members expressing outrage over the government’s decision to back the US after it launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
A grassroots movement, Labor Against War, is urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Senator Penny Wong to show some backbone and oppose the Trump administration’s actions, which they believe are escalating the conflict.
AUKUS Agreement: Is Australia Compromising Its Independence?
Former Labor senator Doug Cameron slammed the government’s decision, saying Australia is simply following the US lead because of the AUKUS agreement.
“We’ve locked ourselves into this agreement, and now we’re subjugating our independence and sovereignty to the US,” he said.
Cameron believes this move is contrary to the Labor Party’s long-standing tradition of promoting peace and independence.
“Kowtowing to the US” – A Betrayal of Labor Values?
Cameron also questioned why the Labor leader and senior ministers are supporting what he considers an “illegal act”.
He emphasized that Australia should prioritize international law and not condone actions that violate it.
Prime Minister Albanese, however, defended the US’s actions, stating that Iran had ignored calls for dialogue and was not complying with nuclear inspections.
The International Community Weighs In
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also found Iran to be non-compliant with nuclear inspections.
Albanese argued that the US’s actions were justified, given Iran’s failure to engage in dialogue and its refusal to abandon its nuclear program.
However, critics argue that this approach is too confrontational and may lead to further escalation.
Australia’s Role in the Conflict
Prime Minister Albanese has faced criticism for not directly answering whether Australia was briefed before the US launched the strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
He repeatedly stated that the strikes were a “unilateral action by the United States”, without confirming or denying whether Australia had prior knowledge.
The UK, on the other hand, was given advanced notice, which has raised questions about Australia’s role in the conflict.
Support for the US Strikes
Despite the controversy, the Australian government has officially backed the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that Australia supports actions to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
However, she also emphasized the need for de-escalation and diplomacy, which some argue is at odds with the government’s support for the US strikes.
The Human Cost of Conflict
The conflict has already had a significant human impact, with thousands of Australians still trapped in Iran and Israel.
Senator Wong expressed her concern for their safety and announced that the government is working on contingency arrangements to evacuate them.
The situation in Iran is particularly dire, with the government forced to close its embassy and evacuate diplomats.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s Statement
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie released a joint statement, saying the Coalition “stands with the United States of America today”.
They argued that the Iranian regime is a “militantly theocratic autocracy” that seeks to destroy America’s allies and brutally represses the rights of women and girls.
The statement emphasized the need to stop the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons and expressed solidarity with the Iranian people.