Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did something rare in Australian politics – he stood tall on the world stage.
By Peter Brown
For once, Australia has refused to be Washington’s obedient junior partner. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision to recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly is more than a diplomatic gesture – it is an act of quiet defiance, one that signals Australia can make decisions based on principle, not just on what suits the White House.
Reports surfaced earlier this week that members of the U.S. Congress sent letters to leaders of Australia, Canada, the UK and France warning of “serious consequences” should they move toward recognising Palestine. For many leaders, that might have been enough to hesitate or delay. Albanese did neither. He ignored the not-so-veiled threat and went to the podium anyway, telling the world that Australia has officially recognised Palestine.
This is no small thing. For decades, Australian governments have cautiously aligned with U.S. policy on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, often abstaining from UN resolutions or softening language to avoid upsetting Washington. Today’s announcement breaks that pattern.
The decision is also deeply in step with Australian public opinion. Poll after poll has shown that most Australians support a two-state solution and believe Palestine deserves recognition. It’s not a radical position – it’s a mainstream one – yet it has taken years for our political leadership to catch up.
Predictably, right-wing media commentators are framing Albanese’s move as reckless, even dangerous. They warn that recognising Palestine will damage relations with the U.S. In reality, the opposite is true. Healthy alliances are built on mutual respect, not fear. Standing up to Washington when it matters strengthens our sovereignty – it doesn’t weaken it.
Australia’s message to the world is clear: we will not allow our foreign policy to be dictated by threats, however subtle. We can be a U.S. ally without being a U.S. satellite.
Of course, recognition is just one step. It won’t end the bloodshed overnight or solve decades of conflict. But it restores some moral credibility to Australia’s voice on the world stage. It says that we care about justice and human rights, even when it is inconvenient to our biggest ally.
Anthony Albanese may not have set out to be remembered for this moment, but he may well be. By refusing to bow to Washington, he has reminded Australians – and the world – that our country can still take a principled stand.
For that, he deserves credit.
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Thanks Peter Brown for your timely comment. Australia is still a fairly conservative society and it takes a lot of courage to annoy the Global Commander in Chief-Donald Trump.Australia needs a majority Labor Government to progress this agenda into a third term as achieved by John Curtin and Ben Chifley in the 1940s. A fourth term was beyond Chifley’s reach after 1949 as the Cold War descended on the world. Bank nationalization was challenged in the High Court prior to the 1949 election but Dr Evatt as foreign minister had the honour of addressing the UN as President of the Security Council. From Opposition after 1949, Federal Labor supported the ANZUS Treaty of 1951-52 and insisted on the need for national sovereignty within the text of the treaty and compatibility with the UN Charter. These vital concepts have been eroded by the LNP particularly during the Morrison years in an attempt to give the 2020 election a khaki hue during Donald Trump’s first term. Let’s hope Albo will stand up against Trump as the strategic ties with the USA are imposed on developing countries like PNG and Fiji if nuclear powered ships with nuclear arms are imposed on our Near Northern Neighbours.
I do believe he (Albo) did.
‘It is important to be on the right side of history (not the right you understand), otherwise there will be no history’ – Think about it, but not for too long!
You can quote me if you like, Jon C 😛
And here’s another reason to back up what Peter here reminds us of: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australia-in-top-10-countries-for-pro-palestinian-protests-data-reveals/6g4nkqzpd – ‘Remarkable’: How Gaza protests unfolded in Australia and around the world. Australia is considered a “low protest country” but it has held some of the biggest pro-Palestinian protests in the world. Explore how Gaza protests have unfolded in our interactive map by Charis Chang – SBS NEWS, 22 September 2025.
This is how democracy works, governments listening to the people, especially when they are well informed, factual, truthful and care about how we treat one another regardless of where in the world a person is or comes from. Beware of what other’s call free speech and interpretations of amendments.
Well done Albo – thanks for listening to the Australian electorate.
So much for sovereignty in our foreign policy. Now please focus on the insidious activities of the Israeli lead Zionist moverment that has infiltrated into every corner of our federal, state and local governance. We don’t need any amendments to our racial vilification laws, our local government representatives don’t need to be lectured on definitions of anti-semitism and our professional medical agencies need to resist one sided accusations against highly valued medical specialists. Enoughj already!
It’s the first step – now we need to put as much pressure as we can on Israel to stop the genocide. Israelis can no longer claim anti-semitism, it’s way beyond time that they understand how we feel about their actions in Gaza
….and another thing: can we really trust Mossad when they tell ASIO that Iranian terrorists are creating anti-semitic acts here in Australia and that the Iranian Ambassador must be expelled? Albo should have given the Israeli Ambassador a one-way ticket back home considering the continual interference by Israeli agencies in our daily activities.
Will I be characterised as anti-semitic for copying this account of an atrocious decision made by the executive of St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney on behalf of Zionist activists? If yes, then so be it!
https://michaelwest.com.au/antisemitism-st-vincents-heartless-treatment-of-cardiologist-who-asked-a-question/
@Mediocrates
I read that Michael West article (link you posted) and here’s my response – everything is connected! I cannot dismiss this with sarcasm, satire or pragmatism… actually I can, but not without first stating how Zionism and Israel have infiltrated and corrupted our Australian government and public institutions on the back of false cries of victimhood and antisemitism, to justify both genocide and opposition to free speech and basic human rights in our country which is none of their concern. They have done this the world over and yes we cannot automatically assume Iran are to blame from sone of this, when clearly it could just as easily be Mossad Israeli set up, funded, spy networks, influencers and propaganda.
CORRUPTION AND ABUSE BY THE VOICES OF ANTISEMITISM – NSW HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT BULLY AND CONDONE
Utterly unbelievable! Cardiac specialist targeted, censored, publicly condemned and suspended by their employer, St Vincent’s Hospital on the back of an offensive attack by Zionist extremist organisation, AAAHC – the Alliance Against Antisemitism in Healthcare (AAAHC). That this organisation is allowed to operate and have such influence in Australia is an assault by Israeli extremists and government on Australian sovereignty.
And as bad, if not worse, that St Vincent’s Hospital, a recipient of State public Health funding and partnership provided by NSW Health have seen fit to pre-judge without due process, rule of law, common law, facts and reason, against NSW Health policy, discrimination, industrial relations legislation and basic human rights is beyond belief – and not for the first time nor only on account of antisemitism, but systemic and abusive organisational performative and dysfunctional misconduct.
Although horrified I am not surprised, since it is my experience and it appears to be common behaviour from NSW Health to bully and treat its health care staff with such disgusting contempt, frequently disciplining without due cause or notice, removing and suspending staff while on leave or on return from leave, on the most spurious arguments, unlawful, unethical and immoral grounds resembling conspiracy theories, institutional paranoia and overreach – forcing resignations, dismissals and silencing staff with non-disclosure statements. How is this any different from a President forcing or shaming employers into sacking people – losing their jobs and careers because they are simply doing their job? And let’s face it we all know exactly where Premier, Chris Minns sits on this – shouting off his mouth in public just like Trump and claiming antisemitism when clearly it is not – cashing in his cards for partisan and personal electoral interests and public manipulation – NOT in the public interest at all.
Free speech is under attack in NSW here too, as are basic civil rights and liberties, and now you lose your job and career because you care about how people treat one another, because you ask genuine and honest ethical questions, because you oppose racism in all its forms, because Israel, Netanyahu and extremist Zionist organisations in Australia have sway, while conducting, supporting, defending the worst genocide in the world today since WW2, and simply put, they don’t like you. Is this the side of history St Vincent’s Hospital and NSW Health wish to side on?
We have come to expect this behaviour from the LNP, Morrison and Dutton, but how far are we prepared to let this land?
….and here is another example of how far the Zionist lobby goes:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-22/albanese-un-palestine-address-ley-republican-letter/105803078?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=abc_newsmail_am-pm_sfmc&utm_term=&utm_id=2627940&sfmc_id=403901166
What the Hell does Susan Ley think she is doing? She is Opposition Leader of Australia’s Federal Parliament – NOT de facto Foreign Minister and as such has no authority let alone credibility in writing such letters to US politicians. Repudiating our elected Prime Minister especially when he will be in USA is an egregious act of disrespect.
A group of 25 US Republicans on Sunday warned there could be “punitive measures” if Australia, Canada, the UK and France joined more than 150 other countries to recognise Palestine.
These US Republicans went on to say:”Proceeding with recognition [of Palestine] will put your country at odds with long-standing US policy and interests and may invite punitive measures in response.”
What an impudence for these Republicans to be threatening punitive measures and what a complete cop-out for Sussan Ley to write back and say that if the coalition ever got into office, they would reverse the recognition of Palestine: she has to go, she is an embarrassment!
The immensely low qualiity (hah) of Australia’s conservative ranks is disturbing for some, but the loudmouthed airheaded stagehoggers are unaware. Occasionally, an outburst of utter rubbish comes from such figures as Antic, Canavan (gag), Taylor, Ley, B Joyce (gurgle), Abbott (allhail), Cash (squark), and many others.., it is nationally amusing, disturbing, irritating, puerile, empty.
It is difficult to understand bible-belt republicans.Funny brand of Xtianity.
Phil Pryor says rightly, “puerile”.