Australian Labor MPs Express Private Alarm Over Government's Support for US-Israel Strikes on Iran
Senior ministers in the Albanese government, including Penny Wong, Richard Marles, Anthony Albanese, and Chris Bowen, publicly endorsed the US and Israel's strikes on Iran last week. However, they maintained that it was up to the United States and Israel to explain whether the attacks complied with international law. This stance has sparked significant private concern among Labor MPs, who are questioning the party's swift endorsement of strikes that many legal experts argue were likely in breach of international norms.
Internal Faction Meetings Reveal Deep-Seated Concerns
Guardian Australia has uncovered that these concerns were aired during a meeting of Labor's left faction following the initial strikes on Iran in February, which triggered a conflict that has since spread across the region. Details of this meeting, held on 2 March, had remained unreported until now, as the Labor caucus quickly aligned behind Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, and Defence Minister Richard Marles. At the meeting, sources described a robust debate about the government's position, with Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy answering questions on behalf of Wong, who was not present.
The government's statement, issued on the evening of Saturday, 28 February—just hours after the attack—expressed support for the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and threatening international peace and security. Notably, it omitted any reference to international law or the rules-based order, which confounded several MPs. They privately questioned why the government rushed to endorse strikes that were likely illegal, contrasting with its more cautious response to previous US bombings of Iranian nuclear sites.
Growing Unease Across Factions and Grassroots Movements
Unease about the government's willingness to publicly support the strikes is not confined to Labor's left faction. Members of the right faction have also expressed concerns, though they are reluctant to speak on record for fear of being seen as troublemakers. This internal angst comes as Labor Against War, the party's grassroots anti-war group, plans to circulate a motion to branches in New South Wales and Victoria. The motion condemns the US and Israel's war on Iran as an illegal act of aggression against a sovereign nation and criticizes the decision as a grave mistake that breaches ALP principles.
The group argues that the war provides concrete evidence that Aukus locks Australia into support for US military adventurism, echoing broader fears that Australia could be dragged into another prolonged conflict. While such branch motions are not binding on MPs, they represent a key way for rank-and-file members and unions to influence party policy, as seen with previous motions on Palestine recognition.
Government Actions and International Legal Scrutiny
As the conflict unfolded, the Albanese government announced it would send a specialist surveillance aircraft and air-to-air missiles to help defend the United Arab Emirates from Iran's retaliatory attacks. Albanese emphasized that Australia would not participate in offensive actions against Iran or deploy troops to the Middle East, addressing concerns from the Greens about potential involvement in a forever war. Despite this, international law experts, including UN special rapporteur Ben Saul, have argued that the strikes violated the UN charter, adding weight to the MPs' private alarms.
The revelations highlight a growing tension within the Labor Party between supporting traditional allies and upholding international legal standards, with implications for upcoming party conferences and policy directions.
