Sydney, 20 March 2024 – Today, members of Families for Palestine staged a protest during Question Time at the NSW Legislative Assembly, condemning Premier Chris Minns’ shocking lack of empathy and understanding towards the Palestinian cause. Premier Minns’ unwavering support for Zionism, an ideology rooted in the dispossession and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people from their lands, is a slap in the face to those seeking justice and equality for all.

The protest aimed to highlight Premier Minns’ ongoing failure to address the legitimate concerns of the Palestinian community in NSW, despite repeated attempts by Families for Palestine to engage with him. Like Albanese, Premier Minns has arrogantly refused to meet with constituents from Families for Palestine, even after multiple visits to his office in Kogarah and numerous letters sent.

🚨 Today, Families for Palestine disrupted Question Time at the NSW Legislative Assembly, exposing @ChrisMinnsMP shocking lack of empathy towards the Palestinian cause. It's time for accountability and justice. #EndTheGenocide #JusticeForPalestine ✊🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/YBvcUmbnEj

— Families for Palestine (@FFP_AU) March 20, 2024

This protest follows a series of events exposing the NSW government’s escalating and disproportionate response to pro-Palestinian activism. Chanting “Zionist lobby out of Australia” and “End all ties with apartheid Israel”, protesters demanded an end to Premier Minns’ blind support for Zionist interests and called for the severance of all ties with Israel.

The mishandling of a recent bomb threat incident targeting a pro-Palestinian activist further underscores Premier Minns’ callous indifference towards Palestinian lives. Despite clear evidence linking the threat to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, authorities refrained from treating it as a terrorism or weapons offense, leaving many in the Palestinian community and their allies feeling abandoned and betrayed.

Premier Minns’ refusal to acknowledge the suffering of Palestinians and his failure to condemn the atrocities committed against them have deepened mistrust and frustration among pro-Palestinian communities in NSW. His decision to light the sails of the Opera House in support of Israel last October, coupled with his criticism of pro-Palestinian rallies, only serves to perpetuate injustice and inequality.

Families for Palestine demands that Premier Minns recognise the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian community and adopt a more empathetic and compassionate approach in his governance. It’s time for Premier Minns to stand on the right side of history and show true leadership by standing with the oppressed, not the oppressors.