Saturday, December 1, 2018

Meet Labor's Latest Faction

OMFG, what next?

"Labor senator Kimberley Kitching - a close ally and friend of Bill Shorten - is moving to create a bipartisan parliamentary group that will defend 'Judeo-Christian' and 'Western-liberal democratic' values as she launches her credentials as a new style of social conservative within the Labor Party." (Kitching caters for Labor's conservative core, Greg Brown, The Australian, 8/10/18)

"While most Labor MPs have backed this position [of not moving Australia's embassy to Jerusalem], others associated with Labor have been pressuring the party to switch its policies in favour of the move. Henry Pinskier, chair of the Labor-aligned John Curtin Research Centre has been campaigning for the move. 'He [Morrison] should move it. Finish what he started, stop back sliding, show some spine,' Mr Pinskier tweeted earlier this month. 'Get this done Josh before you lose government. Don't be swayed by what Indonesia or Malaysia say. A country that has no ties to Israel diplomatically cannot and should not dictate Australia's foreign policy interest.' Labor's senators Kim Carr and Kimberley Kitching and MPs Michael Danby and Mike Kelly are listed on the think tank's board of advisers. John Curtin Research Centre director Nick Dyrenfurth yesterday said Mr Pinskier's views did not represent the official position of the think tank. 'Henry's comments are made in a private capacity only,' Mr Dyrenfurth told The Australian. Mr Danby has said Mr Morrison will look like a 'worthless dud' if he does not make some policy changes on Iran and Jerusalem as a result of his policy review." (Embassy move: voters far from convinced, Primrose Riordan, The Australian, 28/11/18)

Strike a light!

If these misbegottens had a shred of honesty, they'd stop hiding behind the phony "Judeo-Christian" label, change the name of their lair to the Vladimir Jabotinsky Centre, and openly declare themselves for what they are - Zionists.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

OMFG is right! The thing about an embassy is that it's prime mission is diplomacy, what is diplomatic about Australia's embassy moving to Jerusalem? We already have an embassy in Tel Aviv, which to my knowledge, is performing its core mission appropriately. Australia seems to have an excellent relationship with Israel and a good relationship with most governments in the international community. What crisis in our diplomatic mission necessitates this move?

Jerusalem is a hugely contentious issue, and has been, ever since the colonial occupier settlement was but a mere glint in Herzl's eye. This was recognised by the British mandate, and is recognised today by the majority of the world's governments and international bodies. Jerusalem remains a critical touchstone for all the major religions of the world. Therefore, Australia's embassy shift to Jerusalem totally contravenes its own mission statements.

From the 2017 foreign policy white paper, "We advocate and seek to protect an international order in which relations between states are governed by international law and other rules and norms. Australia is pragmatic. We do not seek to impose values on others. We are however a determined advocate of liberal institutions, universal values and human rights."