Bill Shorten, Peter Dutton say October 7 rallies would ‘celebrate Hamas’s actions’

Labor minister Bill Shorten and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have put aside partisan politics to urge pro-Palestine protest organisers to abandon plans to hold rallies around the anniversary of Hamas’ horrific terrorist attacks on Israel.

Mr Shorten and Mr Dutton are usually at each other’s throats, but in a joint morning show appearance on Friday, the longtime rivals came together to question why “people would want to celebrate Hamas’ actions”.

“This is the biggest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust … that’s what October 7th is,” Mr Dutton told Nine’s Today.

“This is an anniversary of 1200 people losing their lives, and that’s why the protests shouldn’t go ahead.”

Mr Dutton said demonstrations around the anniversary, which are planned in Sydney and Melbourne, would only be “compounding the grief of people who have lost lives”.

“Why would people want to do this?” Mr Dutton asked.

“I think there are people within the community, so-called leaders within the community, who should show greater sensitivity. And there are other dates that they can commemorate.”

Mr Shorten said he agreed with much of what Mr Dutton said.

“October the 7th was a massacre of Israelis,” the federal minister said.

“Hamas crossed the border. They killed young people at a concert. They committed shocking crimes. They kidnapped people. They sexually abused people.

“I don’t know what … I don’t know why someone would protest about that.”

He said he understood why the pro-Palestine movement would be asking about their right to voice their “pain” over the loss of Palestinian lives in Gaza, which is upward of 40,000, but questioned why they would do it on October 7.

“I do not understand how people would want to celebrate Hamas’ actions,” Mr Shorten said.

He added that he thought “most Australians don’t want to see these arguments from overseas coming to these shores.”

“They certainly expect it to be peaceful,” he said.

State and territory police forces pledged on Friday to enforce laws on banned symbols at any demonstrations.

Demonstrations in Australia are facing increased scrutiny after flags of Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, and framed pictures of its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, appeared at pro-Palestine rallies last weekend.

“Police respect the right to peacefully protest and assemble in Australia; however, there will be no tolerance for illegal behaviour or violence on any day of the year,” the country’s police forces said in a joint statement.

“In Australia, there are offences that prohibit behaviour that incites or advocates violence or hatred based on race and religion, including the display of prohibited symbols in public under these circumstances.

“It is also a serious offence to counsel, promote, encourage, urge, instruct or praise terrorism.”

They said they would work with all “stakeholders”, including “community leaders and leaders of faith to ensure Australian laws are understood”.

NSW Police launched a Supreme Court bid to block planned demonstrations in Sydney on October 6 and 7, citing safety concerns.

But police and Palestine Action Group on Thursday evening came to an agreement, with the protest organisers agreeing not to hold a rally on October 7 and authorities giving the green light to a rally on October 6.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has backed police moves to block the protests, calling them “distasteful at best”.

But across the border in Victoria, little seems possible to block or even curb demonstrations, with the Garden State’s police saying they “do not have the power”.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on Thursday brushed off questions about a NSW-style permit system, telling reporters her police already had “the tools and the resources they need to protect community safety”.