The Australian Federal Police has warned that security threats to members of parliament are on the rise after senior Labor ministers had their offices vandalised in an escalation of protests over the war in Gaza.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong condemned the protests as violent and unacceptable and accused the Greens of being complicit after pro-Palestine activists threw red paint across MPs’ electorate offices and smashed windows of the United States consulate in Melbourne early on Friday morning.
Wong cited safety concerns for workers inside the office buildings as she demanded Greens leader Adam Bandt censure the protesters. “I understand, and I share the depth of concern, the depth of feeling, that Australians have about what is occurring in Gaza and what is occurring in Rafah,” she said on Friday morning.
“But the depth of the feelings that people have does not justify, in this country, a resort to violent protests and Adam Bandt should act as a leader and make that clear.”
The minor party denied any involvement in organising Friday’s protests. “There is a deep level of disappointment and frustration in the community over Labor’s continued backing of the invasion,” Bandt said.
“The Greens support peaceful protest and agree with the calls from today’s protest organisers that any action shouldn’t involve breakage or property damage.”
Read the article by Natassia Chrysanthos and Alex Crowe in The Age.