PM mute and weak on Palestinian vote: Turnbull

28 Nov 2012, 6:21 am   -   Source: AAP
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Mr Turnbull said it was 'pathetically sad' the government had gone to all the trouble to have a greater voice on the UN security council but would abstain from the general assembly vote on the issue.

Mr Turnbull said it was 'pathetically sad' the government had gone to all the trouble to have a greater voice on the UN security council but would abstain from the general assembly vote on the issue.

A decision by Prime Minister Julia Gillard to bow to pressure to abstain from a UN assembly vote on the Palestinian status is weak, Malcolm Turnbull says. 

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Labor's decision to abstain from a United Nations vote to upgrade Palestine's status makes Australia appear weak and impotent, Liberal frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull says.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard was forced to abandon her plan to vote against the Palestinians bid to become a non-member observer state following a push by Foreign Minister Bob Carr and the risk of a backbench revolt.

Australia will instead abstain from voting on the Palestinian resolution when it comes before the UN general assembly on Thursday, in a rare break from Israel and the United States.

Ms Gillard wanted to vote against the resolution and is believed to have overruled her cabinet colleagues on Monday, before changing her position shortly before a Labor caucus meeting on Tuesday.

Cabinet minister Stephen Conroy would not be drawn on cabinet discussions after being asked if it was true he supported Ms Gillard's position.

"I support the position that was adopted today with the prime minister's full endorsement," he told ABC television.

Mr Turnbull said it was "pathetically sad" the government had gone to all the trouble to have a greater voice on the UN security council but would abstain from the general assembly vote on the issue.

"Its first significant vote since it won that seat on the security council is not to say yes or no but to say nothing, to sit mute, undecided, weak and helpless and impotent.

"It doesn't have the guts to say for it or against it."

Australia should have stuck to the previous policy to oppose any change to the status of the Palestinian territories in respect to the UN, Mr Turnbull said.

"Any change should be part of a proper peace arrangement, proper progress towards peace."

The previous policy should be adhered to while Hamas and Fatah were basically involved in a civil war, Mr Turnbull said.

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no peace without realism

phw - from canberra, 6 months ago

As a nation accustomed to get its will through emotional blackmail in the wake of the holocaust Israel is unable to find its own path to a peaceful co-existance with its neighbours. As long as this firmly entrenched guilt complex dictates U.S. and E.U. foreign policies in the middle east, peace will remain elusive. Australia's gingerly assertive stance in the U.N. will hopefully encourage other nations to urge Israel to grow up as a responsible global citizen.

Well Said

Sean - from Toowoomba, 6 months ago

I don't always agree with what Malcom says but he is spot on this time, Well said.

We cannot recognise Hammas ever!

Bernard - from Sydney, 6 months ago

Australia is not in a position to abstain from decrying a political/"terrorist" organisation such as Hammas. Irrespective of whatever historical ownership Palestine/Hammas may claim to have, their manner of management is not acceptable in the 21st century western world . They therefor cannot participate in any world governing body, even as an observer status entity. Australians take our freedom for granted, we see it in our art, we see it in our behavior and we see it in our putrid government.

We cannot recognise Hammas ever!

Bernard - from Sydney, 6 months ago

Australia is not in a position to abstain from decrying a political/"terrorist" organisation such as Hammas. Irrespective of whatever historical ownership Palestine/Hammas may claim to have, their manner of management is not acceptable in the 21st century western world . They therefor cannot participate in any world governing body, even as an observer status entity. Australians take our freedom for granted, we see it in our art, we see it in our behavior and we see it in our putrid government.

Remove this figure from Australian Politics

Peter Staheli - from Currumbin, 6 months ago

Gillard is a puppet of USA an Israel. About time that this figure of moral weakness is removed.

Still not good enough

dude - from Melbourne, 6 months ago

Here's the thing, any informed person who knows the history of this conflict will most definitely vote a YES for Palestinain statehood; go research history and see how Israel came about in 1948. Australia should do the right thing and vote YES, stop following the remotely controlled American Political system (from Tel Aviv), we are an independant nation, we believe in whats fair and should condemn aggression and occupation, and I think everyone knows who's occupying whom

A step in the right direction

A Kemp - from Wentworth Electorate, 6 months ago

@ P Stein, the old anti-semite attack is a cliche, just because someone does not agree with an Israeli politician's stance? Please. @ Malcolm Turnbull, as you know an abstention is still a political message. Australia is now more neutral and less biased to one side. Israel won't move to give Palestinians what it has given itself. This is the cause of the warring. Both sides deserve statehood. Australia is at war - does that mean we shouldn't be a state?

Turnbul rhetoric

John - from Newcastle, 6 months ago

Turnbull knows better that 1) this vote does not have a veto and so being a member of the security council is irrelevant and 2) to abstain from a UN vote can send just as much of a powerful message than a yes or no vote since it is a a way of disagreeing with an allies position without crossing them - it is not a wasted vote. His words are therefore nothing more than rhetoric and he should focus on why the coalition supports a no vote unlike the rest of the world.

PM backs down

oncewas - from bribie island, 6 months ago

I try to be apolitical because most of our politicians are dropkicks but unfortunately the media insist on telling all.So the PM took advice from her party and advisers and changed her stance. Isn't that democracy?But the carping, whining opposition has to drum it up as something it is not.If I must be exposed to the rantings of the opposition,please encourage them to produce policies that I can evaluate in the lead-up to the next election.They seem to be light on policy except for denigration.

Waste of money

Les - from Silverdale, 6 months ago

This government has spent millions of taxpayers money gaining a seat on the general assembly and now when they have the chance to be heard by voting for or against the resolution our representative will just sit there like a dummy and do nothing. What a waste of time and money in achieving this seat!!!!

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