MEDIA RELEASE
17 September 2026
The Jewish Council is deeply disappointed that the Red Lines Package was not referred for a Senate inquiry today, with both the Labor and Coalition parties voting against.
The Jewish Council joined a broad coalition of human rights, faith and multicultural allies in Parliament on Tuesday for the launch of the Red Lines Package, a four-part piece of legislation that was introduced across both houses of Parliament by Dr Sophie Scamps MP and Senator David Pocock.
The legislation would bring Australia’s domestic laws in line with its international obligations – putting legal limits on Australia’s ability to arm, fund, or trade in support of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and illegal occupation.
The Jewish Council will continue advocating for this package and other measures to prevent Australia from being complicit in genocide, war crimes and illegal occupation.
Bart Shteinman, Executive Officer at the Jewish Council of Australia said:
“This is the beginning, not the end of the road for the Red Lines Package. Australians expect our government to be consistent in applying our values and legal obligations to our foreign policy. Which genocidal governments we invest in and which illegal occupations our charities can donate to should not depend solely on the discretion of the government of the day.
“If the government genuinely believes it is already complying with its international law obligations, then they have no reason to oppose these bills. Ensuring our domestic laws meet this universal standard is the bare minimum Australia can do to take a stand against genocide, war crimes, and illegal occupation.
“As Jews, many of us descended from Holocaust survivors, we remember what happens when governments turn a blind eye or act too late in the face of persecution and mass murder. Australia should not be repeating the mistakes of the past – it’s time to draw a red line.
For more information, visit: https://www.redlinespackage.com.au/
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