Opposition leader admits Australia wants to see ‘hungry’ Gazans fed, but slams pro-Palestine protesters

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has revised her public stance on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying “there is hunger and starvation” in the territory after initially sidestepping questions about the subject.

The Liberal leader’s comments on Monday marked a notable change in tone after hesitation at a Canberra press conference last week to directly address the issue.

“There is hunger and starvation in Gaza. It needs to be addressed, and I’m pleased to see that the Israeli Government is doing exactly that,” she told reporters in Broome on her last day of a tour of the Kimberley.

She coupled the acknowledgement with a reiteration that Hamas should surrender and release hostages to end the war.

“But what also needs to happen is for Hamas, the terrorist group that is in control of the Gaza Strip, to surrender, release the hostages, and surrender and then the war could end tomorrow,” she said.

“Ultimately, Australians do want to see Gazans fed. They want to see the Israeli hostages released. They want to see the war end.”

Ms Ley also slammed pro-Palestine protesters who shut down Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday for “throwing the city into chaos” and diverting vital resources.

The bridge closed down after the Supreme Court gave the protest - which attracted more than 90,000 people, the greenlight despite opposition from NSW Premier Chris Minns and the State’s police force.

“It’s not reasonable that we have protests that shut down a major arterial road,” she said.

“It’s not reasonable that we throw Sydney into chaos for hours and hours, and I just wonder about the people who genuinely needed emergency services and had to wait or couldn’t actually get them.

“I want to say a big thank you to our police and emergency services - over a thousand were diverted at the last minute.

“We can’t continue to have these protests that shut down such an important area of a major city.”

Premier Minns has since declared to examine the court ruling — raising concerns it could set a dangerous precedent for protests in NSW.

“We’re examining the judgment to determine whether this is a precedent or there are circumstances in relation to the judgment that specifically make it applicable to just that form 1 application,” he told reporters on Monday.

NSW Acting Police Assistant Commissioner Adam Johnson told breakfast TV on Monday the force had feared a “crowd crush” and believed it had become close during a bottleneck on the day.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, however, was less critical of protesters — saying it was a “peaceful” rally and natural for a democracy.

“In a democracy, it is a good thing people peacefully express their views. Yesterday’s march was peaceful and an opportunity for people to express their concern about what is happening in Gaza,” he said.

“It is not surprising so many Australians have been affected… (and) want to show their concern.”

While the Labor leader was supportive of the movement, former Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon accused the protesters of acting like they have a “monopoly on compassion” and called for greater acknowledgement of the role Hamas has played in the war.

The ex-defence minister acknowledged that people across Gaza were suffering from starvation but questioned what messages pro-Palestine protesters were sending to the terrorist organisation.

“How many people walking across the bridge yesterday could name the leaders of Hamas? There seemed to be a lot of experts on the Harbour Bridge. But how much do they know? There’s plenty of blame to go around,” Mr Fitzgibbon told Sky on Monday.

He suggested that protesters “seem to be marching for Hamas” and “seem to want to persuade us they have the monopoly on compassion”. “They do not,” he added.

Richard Marles said the sheer numbers which attended made “a very powerful statement” that Australians are “rightly appalled” by the Gaza war.

The Defence Minister on Monday said Australia would continue to call for a ceasefire and thanked protesters and organisers for being “peaceful”.

“I think Australians are rightly appalled by the tragedy that they see unfolding on their screens, playing out in Gaza. It’s a tragedy that we all want to see stop. It’s why the government has been calling for a ceasefire for a very long period of time now,” he said.

Sydney Major Clover Moore said closing a bridge was a small price to pay compared to the pain and suffering in Gaza.

“Compare that with what’s happening in Gaza where all those people have lost their homes and they’re either starving or getting killed when they’re going to get food. What’s happening in Gaza must stop and we stand with them and support them,” she said.

WA Premier Roger Cook said he didn’t want to see community safety in WA eroded due to horrors occurring overseas.

“I understand there’s a lot of anxiety right through the community,” he said.

“We also want to make sure that there’s peace in the Middle East, and we want to make sure that piece, that young rescue scene in the Middle East doesn’t translate to disquiet or anxieties or a lack of sense of safety in Western Australia.

“And so that’s obviously my focus.”