MPs clash with pro-Palestinian protesters over Gaza war
Queensland MPs have clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters outside parliament during a rally against the Gaza conflict.
Katter’s Australian Party MP’s Nick Dametto (left) and Robbie Katter (right) are seen confronting protestors at a Free Palestine rally outside Queensland Parliament House in Brisbane, Thursday, March 7, 2024. Greens leader Adam Bandt addressed the rally. (AAP Image/Darren England)
State MPs have clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters at Queensland parliament after holding up “condemn Hamas” signs.
Hundreds had gathered outside parliament on Thursday in a rally against the Gaza conflict, before they were approached by Robbie Katter and Nick Dametto of Katter’s Australia Party.
The rally was briefly interrupted when the MPs stood at a fence outside parliament holding up the signs at the protesters, sparking fiery scenes.
Protesters flocked to the fence shouting “shame” at the MPs.
One person grabbed the sign from Mr Dametto before scrunching it up and throwing it away.
Mr Katter and Mr Dametto were ushered back into parliament by police following the encounter, but protesters remained at the fence screaming.
The pair claimed the demonstrators were aggressive after they went out to present an alternative view.
“We’re just sick and tired of having one side of the debate being self-righteously shutting down traffic and saying they know everything about this Middle East,” Mr Katter said.
“We should be allowed to have alternative views on things but these people are completely intolerant of anyone else having another view from them, and were acting like lunatics out there.”
The clash came after Mr Katter and state Greens leader Michael Berkman were at loggerheads over a pro-Palestinian motion in parliament on Wednesday.
Mr Berkman launched a motion condemning the government’s support for weapons manufacturers, which Mr Katter labelled narrow-minded and one-sided.
Mr Berkman and federal Greens leader Adam Bandt both addressed the rally, which at one stage brought peak hour morning traffic to a standstill in Brisbane’s CBD.
They called for a Gaza ceasefire and an end to Australia’s involvement in the conflict.
“This is a movement for peace, this is a movement for humanity and this is a movement to end the invasion and end the occupation so Palestinians have the right to live in peace and security,” Mr Bandt told the crowd.
Protesters called for a ceasefire in Gaza during a rally that disrupted traffic in the Brisbane CBD. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
Mr Berkman criticised the state government’s stance on the conflict.
“The place is ill-equipped to deal with it and it is actively avoiding making our premier answer questions on the basis because it isn’t a matter of explicit state responsibility we can wipe our hands of it,” he said.
“We need to keep up the noise.”
Many protesters held Palestinian flags along with “stop arming Israel” and “end the siege of Gaza” signs at the rally, which blocked two major Brisbane city roads.
They were eventually directed away by police after the hour-long protest.
By: Savannah Meacham/AAP
