‘Told not to speak’: NSW Labor MP’s bombshell claim over Palestine

A NSW Labor MP claims he was told he “would not be allowed to speak” by a senior official during a debate about Palestine at a party conference late last year. Labor MLC Anthony D’Adam told the Legislative Council during a late-afternoon address on Thursday that the official said he could not be sure that Mr D’Adam’s comments would not “harm the Labor Party”. “It is often argued that we should keep our debates inside party forums, but what option are we given if even in the forums where debates are supposed to occur, dissenting voices are not allowed to be heard,” he said. Mr D’Adam claimed he was “howled down, abused” and urged to resign following a meeting of the Labor caucus earlier this week when, he said, he sought to “make pointed criticisms of the Premier in respect to the issues of Palestine” and the Sydney Harbour Bridge protest. Members of the NSW Labor Party broke ranks over the weekend to join members of the Greens and crossbench who rallied with more than 100,000 pro-Palestine protesters across the bridge after the Supreme Court shot down a bid by police to stop the march. Premier Chris Minns had been vehemently opposed to the march, repeatedly stating that a pro-Palestine protest across the bridge should never be allowed to occur. In his speech, Mr D’Adams claims a motion was moved to “gag” him from speaking and his critique of the Premier was “political” and not personal. “During the caucus debate, I could see the fear in the faces and hear it in the voices of my colleagues,” Mr D’Adams said. “They were concerned that this type of conflict could cost them their seats or their ministries. “It is this fear that is driving a risk-averse culture in our party, but the challenges that we face as a society require bold government.” Asked about the remarks, Premier Chris Minns rebuked Mr D’Adam’s claims of “bullying” and said there were “always robust discussions in the parliamentary Labor Party”. “There’s tough debates,” he said. “If you’re in a position where you’re going to advance a tough argument, sometimes you can expect people to come back and give their two cents as well. “I’ve been in a similar situation. It can be intimidating, but ultimately, they’re robust forums, and usually, not always, but usually, we’re better for them.” Mr Minns said it was against convention to discuss party-room business but did so given the interest following Mr D’Adam’s public remarks. Palestine struggle puts Labor MP ‘at odds’ Mr D’Adam said issues such as war and “climate catastrophe” would not be solved by “whispered conversations in quiet corners of government”. He admitted his “dissenting views” on Palestine were well known and “put him at odds with the current leadership of the party” at both state and federal level. “I believe there is room in the Labor Party for those who hold opinions like mine,” Mr D’Adam said. “I fear, however, there is a growing intolerance in the Labor Party for dissent that is stultifying the party’s internal culture, and it is producing a stale groupthink. “If we do not accommodate dissent, then it finds home elsewhere, and Labor becomes a narrow party devoid of debate, the kind of debate that is essential to the party.” State and federal Labor members attended Sunday’s march, including NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib. Former federal minister Ed Husic was also in attendance. Mr Minns’ office and the NSW Labor Party were contacted for comment.