Yasser Robi writes: When the war between Russia and Ukraine started, I took pride in how our country stood by Ukraine while it was being attacked by a superior power. I was happy that our government took a strong moral stance and stuck by it.
Then the Australian government stood by Israel as its war turned into a massacre, killing innocent men, women and children. I have been disgusted by the double standards and shocked at how both Labor and Liberal have been so keen to openly support a country committing genocide.
Now, over half a year later, the Labor Party is only willing to offer lip service to try and save some votes by making meaningless statements that hold no real value while still providing material support to the Israeli government.
I have been an avid Labor voter for over 20 years now, simply because I found that the party matched my values more closely than the other options. Over the past few voting cycles, I noticed it slipping further away from my values, but I still thought that by supporting it, I was ensuring a more stable government that did not hold the extreme right-wing values that the Liberal Party seems to have adopted.
After what I have now seen coming from the Labor Party during this man-made humanitarian disaster, I cannot in all good conscience vote for them again. I will now look for alternatives to the two major parties and do all I can to sway as many people as possible down that path.
Mark Dess writes: The Albanese government’s response to Israel’s atrocities in Gaza is a deterministic factor in how I will vote at the next federal election.
The government’s position has slowly evolved from fully supporting Israel to cautious words of mild criticism… and it took the deaths of World Central Kitchen staff to bring about even this small shift. The government cannot bring itself to articulate any action it might take to bring pressure to bear on Israel.
I have written to and called Labor senators and, while receiving a sympathetic hearing, have not had a satisfactory response as to why the government is refusing to act.
Having supported the ALP since I started voting, I will vote Greens in future. The ALP lacks moral clarity and consistency on Gaza — they do not deserve my vote.
Steven Brennan writes: The sickening part of Labor’s stance on Gaza is its willingness to ignore these humanitarian atrocities in service to the US alliance.
Gaza is just an extension of its foreign policy and the control the US has over this country. The betrayal of Palestine and the clear-eyed support for Israel in committing these acts of genocide will certainly cost [Labor] at election time.
Good and decent people do not like acts of betrayal, especially when the cost is so heavily laid at the feet of thousands of innocent, defenceless people.
If I have the choice of a good independent at election time, or the Greens, that is where my vote will go.
Mia Leigh writes: Despite being a long-time Labor supporter, recent policies have left me infuriated. I always favoured it over the Liberal Party. My children have always voted Labor since becoming eligible, and their influence extends to their friends, who also tend to vote Labor. However, that’s about to change. I have been actively discussing with my children and my circle of friends at every opportunity, and we have unanimously decided to support the Greens. This decision is non-negotiable.
At a recent end-of-Ramadan function, both Muslim and non-Muslim guests made it abundantly clear that Labor will not receive our votes in upcoming elections. The party’s positions, policies, and political rhetoric are an insult to any decent human being.
Julia Bovard writes: The refusal to speak out in a more determined manner about Israel’s actions in flattening Palestine and creating deaths and starvation among the population has not been a welcome response from Australia. The government is very lucky the opposition itself has no policies. Hopefully, we now join the developed nations who see a deliberate attempt to bomb and starve Palestine as an international disgrace, and to many, a war crime. Peace is well deserved and desired.
