LABOR’S SHAMELESS CLAIM: Shadow Minister Accuses Albanese Government of ‘Hoodwinking’ Australians Over Gaza Peace Deal
- Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh slams Labor for taking credit for the Israel-Gaza peace agreement
- McIntosh claims Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state did not contribute to the deal, despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s claims
- The Liberal MP says Labor is trying to ‘make ground’ on their relationship with the US ahead of a presidential trip
- McIntosh warns that Australia must not be ‘out of step’ with its greatest ally, the US, on Middle East policy
In a scathing attack, Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh has accused the Albanese government of ‘hoodwinking’ Australians into thinking they played a role in the historic Israel-Gaza peace deal. The Liberal MP slammed Labor for taking credit for the agreement, saying it’s ‘quite extraordinary’ and ‘pretty typical’ of the party’s tactics.
McIntosh’s comments come after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese claimed Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state helped contribute to the peace agreement. However, McIntosh says this is simply not true. ‘We’ve got to remember that the US administration was not happy with Australia when we made our declaration,’ she said on ABC’s Insiders program. ‘So to come now and say that we are out of step with the rest of the world… well, I think they’ve been out of step with our greatest ally for some time.’
McIntosh believes Labor is trying to ‘make ground’ on their relationship with the US ahead of a presidential trip. ‘The government didn’t need to make that claim,’ she said. ‘They could have been quiet about it and just accepted that this is Trump’s moment.’ When asked if it’s okay for Australia to have a different position to the US on the Middle East, McIntosh was adamant that Australia must not be ‘out of step’ with its greatest ally.
‘We’re our own sovereign country,’ she said. ‘We can have our own opinions. It doesn’t mean we’re not standing with our greatest allies. But we’ve had our position for a very long time.’ McIntosh’s comments are likely to spark a heated debate about Australia’s foreign policy and its relationship with the US.
