Behind Australia’s UN vote
Australia has shifted its vote at the United Nations in support of Palestinian rights out of frustration at a lack of progress towards a peaceful, two-state solution.
James Larsen Australia’s ambassador to United Nations Pic: Wikimedia Commons
HOW DID AUSTRALIA VOTE
*Australia voted in support of a United Nations General Assembly motion urging Israel to “bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible” and remove settlers in occupied territories.
*The motion also recognised the “inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent state”.
*Australia abstained on a vote about the division for Palestinian rights of the secretariat that would put on an annual exhibit about Palestinian rights and encourage states to give support and publicity to the Day of Solidarity.
*The division is a part of the UN political and peacebuilding affairs department and serves as the secretariat of a committee working on Palestinian rights.
*Australia voted no to a motion demanding Israel withdraw from the occupied Syrian Golan.
HOW DID AUSTRALIA VOTE PREVIOUSLY
*Australia shifted from an abstention to a yes on the resolution about a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine. It had voted in favour of this between 1996 and 2000 and has since shifted between yes, no and abstaining.
*Australia shifted from a no to an abstention on the motion about a division for Palestinian rights of the secretariat. It abstained between 1996 and 2003 and then changed to voting no before reverting to abstaining in 2024.
*Australia remained a no on the Syrian Golan motion. It had abstained between 1996 and 2017 and shifted to no in 2018, which remained the same in 2024.
WHY DID AUSTRALIA CHANGE ITS VOTE
*The position reflected Australia’s determination to work towards a two-state solution where Israel and Palestine exist peacefully side-by-side, its ambassador to the UN James Larsen said.
*Australia returning to an abstention from a no on the division for Palestinian rights of the secretariat motion “reflects our frustration” about progress towards a two-state solution and the need for momentum towards peace, he said.
*Australia couldn’t vote in favour of the division due to reservations about devoting “too many resources to a one-sided perspective of the conflict”, he said.
