Communications Minister Michelle Rowland’s warning that the ballot box is ‘not a guide to Middle East policy’ (The Australian, 26 July 2024), coupled with her concerns about social cohesion, highlights federal Labor’s naivete and how out of touch it is with the electorate. Moreover, these views from senior Labor MPs border on dismissiveness of our democratic principles and our parliamentary system of government.
Minister Rowland and senior parliamentary colleagues need to be reminded that a democratic government is accountable to its voters. MP’s are elected to represent their constituents’ views. Voters do and should always have a say in all forms of policy, including foreign policy, especially when it directly affects certain communities.
Attempts to dismiss legitimate public debate can potentially undermine the role of locally elected representatives, leading to public disillusionment with government institutions and decreased trust in our legislative processes.
Labor MP’s and strategists could benefit from a refresher course in political realism: ignoring a sizeable support base of pro-Palestine and anti-war voters could potentially result in significant losses for the Labor Party in key constituencies and jeopardise its hold on government in the upcoming federal elections.
If a significant portion of an MP’s electorate feels strongly about the Israel-Palestinian conflict or the recognition of a Palestinian state, their representatives have a duty to reflect these concerns in policy discussions. It is simply unacceptable to present the seemingly pro-Israel agendas as the only acceptable foreign policy in the public sphere.
By not being responsive to the concerns of pro-Palestine and anti-war voters, the government risks alienating a significant segment of the population. This alienation can exacerbate community tensions rather than alleviate them, contrary to the goal of social cohesion.
While social cohesion is a fundamental pillar of Australian society, it is not mutually exclusive with voter sentiments. Effective social policies can be designed that address community tensions while also being responsive to the electorate’s views and concerns.
The Department of Home Affairs defines social cohesion as ‘Our inclusive national identity is built around our shared values including democracy, freedom, equal opportunity and individual responsibility.’
Minister Rowland’s warnings come immediately after the release of her government’s landmark review of multiculturalism in Australia: The Multicultural Framework Review; ‘Towards Fairness – a multicultural Australia for all’ launched by Multicultural Affairs Minister Andrew Giles.
The report makes 29 recommendations to strengthen Australian multiculturalism and calls for a ‘bipartisan national commitment to multiculturalism based on social cohesion, cultural identity, and equality of opportunity.’ It also asserts that ‘everyone in Australia is responsible for fostering an inclusive society; in our workplaces, social interactions, online or in person, everyone should adopt a human rights approach to inclusivity, fairness, respect, and equality.’
The Albanese Government has ‘committed more than $100 million to support a stronger multicultural Australia.’ Surely, our political leaders will ensure these funds are not wasted by failing to address the real concerns of our diverse communities, who are expressing their views on the human rights of Palestinians and urging the government to adopt a more just foreign policy position.
Social cohesion won’t be served well by the current tone-deaf indifference toward support for Palestine, which is being used to delegitimise diverse political voices. This approach confines these voices to a politically expedient notion of ‘social harmony’ and promotes false narratives.
Real and lasting social cohesion cannot be achieved if the term is used as a political tool to pressure and intimidate voters into choosing between compliance and subservience.
Certain senior figures within this government appear so disconnected from the grassroots and out of touch with the recent political realities of the urgent calls for a genuine policy shift that fully recognises the human rights of Palestinians, that it risks undermining its chances of re-election.
Nail Aykan
Nail Aykan is a respected leader within multicultural and multifaith communities with a strong record of active engagement in the social cohesion space. He served as the Executive Director of the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) for eight years.