australia's recognition of palestine

​Source: AAP/Dean Lewins via REUTERS

On 11 August 2025, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the upcoming 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, joining more than three-quarters of the Assembly in recognising Palestine as a state. Albanese stated, "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza." 

Australia has been under mounting pressure to recognise Palestinian statehood, after France, Canada and the UK all separately signaled they would, with conditions, ahead of the General Assembly in September. Speaking on ABC's 7.30 programme prior to this announcement, Albanese said he wants to “see conditions met that achieve lasting security for Israel, before Australia commits to recognition of a Palestinian state” and added that he “would not be pushed into the decision by other nations.”

What are the conditions of Australia's recognition of Palestine?

• ​A demilitarised Palestine.
• Recognising Israel's right to exist in peace and security.
• Holding elections and undertaking governance reforms.
• No role for terror group Hamas in a future Palestinian state.
• End of payments to martyrs' families.​

The Coalition has voiced its “serious concerns” about the decision, with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley critical of Australia appearing “at odds with the United States.” The United States’ Vice-President JD Vance has reiterated that the US has no plans to recognise a Palestinian state, with its ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee saying “there's an enormous level of disappointment and some disgust.” 

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry statement on the 11th, acknowledged the need for hostages to be released, and for Hamas to be removed/disarmed from power. They also criticised this action, calling Albanese's decision a "betrayal and abandonment of the Israeli hostages who continue to languish in appalling conditions in Gaza" and claiming that the announcement gives the hostages "no hope for release" and "leaves Hamas armed and in control of territory."

What does it mean to ‘recognise Palestine’?
Symbolically, recognising Palestine would be a declaration to Israel that it cannot dictate the terms of Palestine’s relationship with Australia. It would also demonstrate Australia’s support for international law and UN resolutions, arguably enhancing Australia’s standing as a good international citizen and increasing Australian soft power. It is also important to note, Australia currently has an ambassador to Israel, but only a representative to Palestine, recognition would establish a formal diplomatic relationship with Palestine.

The influence from the March for Humanity
Just 8 days prior to this announcement, the Palestine Action Group organised the historic ‘March for Humanity’. This protest demanded that the Australian government sanction Israel and stop the two-way arms trade with Israel. 

The Palestine Action Group is a Sydney-based activist organisation committed to supporting Palestine and opposing Israeli Apartheid. The March for Humanity called for four demands:

• Stop the starvation
• Stop the genocide
• Stop weapons sales to Israel
• Sanction Israel now

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Traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge was blocked from 11:30 am to approximately 4:00 pm, with at least 90,000 people participating. Organisers put the figure closer to 300,000 according to Sydney Morning Herald. At the same time as the Harbour Bridge protest, an estimated 25,000 protesters gathered at the State Library Victoria in Melbourne.

Unlike the 2000 March for Reconciliation and the 2023 World Pride march on the Harbour Bridge, The March for Humanity was opposed by both major political parties and police. NSW Police sought a prohibition order over the Palestine Action Group’s planned march. There was also legal concern at this stage, protesters could still attend, but without legal protection, leaving them liable under the 2022 Roads and Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill to penalties of up to two years in prison and a $22,000 fine for obstructing main roads or transport hubs. Justice Belinda Rigg declined the prohibition order, stating there is “no evidence that a prohibition order would enhance public safety,” and the protest was held the next day.

​Recent protests in London, highlight what could have happened if the prohibition order had been accepted, with 60 people facing prosecution for “showing support” for Palestine Action, the activist group outlawed as a “terrorist organisation” last month for protesting Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Palestine Action Group responds to Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state
​Palestine Action Group Sydney statement outlines that the “recognition of a Palestinian state has never been a demand of this movement.” They criticised the move, stating that “recognition without sanctions is an empty gesture” and maintained that "recognition is meaningless when, at the same time, our government continues to arm and trade with the very regime seeking its annihilation.”

Source: Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, News agencies and UN General Assembly