One Nation come for our Free Speech and Democracy
Words by Habibah Jaghoori
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation has always and will always live true to its legacy of dismantling free speech, disbanding genuine democratic political progress and committing to the tireless campaign of upholding Australia’s imperialist and racist standard in geo and national politics. This time the hatred fuelling party has come for The South Australian Legislative Council by introducing a motion that calls for the Upper House to adopt and endorse the backwards International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.
The key items from this terrible motion are:
1. (f) Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations;
2. (g) Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, for example, by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour;
This motion is being proposed tomorrow, June 15th at South Australia’s Parliament House.
In reality, this motion is a desperate attempt to block the Upper House from doing or participating in anything that even remotely supports Palestine and to force the Upper House to extend unwavering allegiance to the genocidal state of Israel. It’s a lowbrow attempt at giving impunity to Israeli politicians, armed forces or settlers to commit ongoing colonialism, ethnic cleansing and apartheid. This motion, proposed by MLC Sarah Leslie Game is an attack on our democracy and it’s an attack on the fight for sovereignty both abroad and here, on stolen land. It’s part of the constant endeavour to normalise the Australian imperialism and capitalistic goals at the cost of peace, free speech, Australian working-class demands and Palestinian freedom. There is no anti-semitism in criticising and oppoing Israel. If One Nation members took time out of their racist- activities filled schedules to implore some knowledge and education, they would come to know that Palestinians are actually semites.
When South Australians took to the polls during state elections, they did so without the knowledge or expectation that One Nation will hijack the course of our state politics with their war-mongering agenda. South Australians voted for a new state government because they were fed up with the Liberal handling of the state.
Unfortunately, Labor and Liberal share very little difference in their lack of commitment to working-class welfare and geopolitical peace. With these two parties holding a majority of the council, we shouldn’t be surprised if the motion is successful. This motion will be a test for Labor. It’s an opportunity for them to demonstrate some morals.
The good and true news however, is that actual worthwhile and real democracy, change, progress and liberation have always been achieved on the streets by the masses and not in Parliaments. Solidarity with Palestine will always be an action in the hearts of every anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, freedom-fighting person. Every day, more and more people are realising Israel’s illegitimacy and war crimes. Every day people are waking up to the horrors of the system and are longing for change. The inspiring resistance of the Palestinians and the global solidarity behind them will not be halted by the rich and powerful. One Nation can bring forth whatever motion they please, but it will never stop the inevitable and near freedom of Palestine from the river to the sea.
