Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has swerved questions about Donald Trump’s extraordinary declaration he intends to forcibly relocate the people of Gaza and “level the site”.
Mr Albanese restated Australia’s “longstanding” support for a two-state solution but repeatedly refused to offer a view on Mr Trump’s remarks.
“I’m not going to, as Australia’s prime minister, give a daily commentary on statements by the US president. My job is to support Australia’s position,” he told reporters at Parliament House on Wednesday.
“I’ll tell you what Australians will be concerned about: they’re concerned about Medicare, they’re concerned about education … I’ll continue to engage in that.
“What we do is we take considered positions when matters of international affairs are raised, and we do so in a manner that is consistent with Australia’s values.”
In a White House press conference a short time earlier, Mr Trump stood beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and pledged to “take over” Gaza, raze it and rebuild it, relocating its residents to neighbouring countries to “live in comfort and peace”.
The announcement, which did not include specifics, would likely be a violation of international law. It was welcomed in glowing terms by Mr Netanyahu, but immediately denounced by Saudi Arabia.
Mr Albanese said Australia had not received any US request to participate in “the rebuilding of Gaza”.
“We’ve supported a ceasefire, we’ve supported hostages being released and we’ve supported aid getting into Gaza. Australia is willing to assist aid getting into Gaza. We have done so. That is what is consistent with what Australians have always done.”
Asked on multiple occasions whether he would condemn the significant shift in US policy, Mr Albanese declined.
“The Australian position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year, as it was 10 years ago, as it was under the Howard government,” Mr Albanese said.
“Australia played, historically, a very important role in the creation of the state of Israel. It’s something that … governments consistently since then have supported.
“But those governments have also supported what happened then, which was the creation of two states, not just one, and that remains my position, and it has been a bipartisan position up to this point.”
Coalition also declines ‘running commentary’
Asked about Mr Trump’s latest remarks, the Coalition’s shadow foreign affairs spokesperson Julian Leeser also said he did not “intend to provide a running commentary”.
“President Trump has put forward an idea today. It’s not an idea that we’ve put forward,” he said.
The government has differentiated itself over the course of the Gaza war from some positions taken by the previous Biden administration, instead voting alongside the UK, Canada and New Zealand on several UN resolutions relating to the delivery of aid and progress towards a ceasefire.
That prompted accusations from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton that the government had “abandoned” its American ally.
But the government was quick to emphasise that the ceasefire eventually struck in February was brokered by the US with the involvement of both former US president Joe Biden and Mr Trump, drawing a political contrast.
“We, like President Trump, support the ceasefire,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong had said on Monday.
“It’s a ceasefire that Mr Dutton opposed. Remember that. But we want to add our voice to continued support for the ceasefire and the next phase of the ceasefire.”
Greens leader Adam Bandt said Mr Trump’s announcement was “proof” that a Trump presidency was “a threat to peace and democracy”.
“This is the end of international law. This is Donald Trump talking about the takeover of another country, potentially by force. The Australian government must make clear that it opposes a clear violation of international law.”
