Kevin Rudd Statement on Durban II

PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA

ADDRESS TO THE AUSTRALIA-ISRAEL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

AND GENERAL SIR JOHN MONASH FOUNDATION

24 April 2009

DOCKLANDS, MELBOURNE

PM: Today our thoughts are with the Pratt family at this difficult time.

Dick Pratt is a great supporter of the General Sir John Monash Foundation and it’s just one example of his generosity in helping younger generations fulfill their potential…

…Can I further acknowledge the great work of the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce in hosting today’s function, in supporting the relationship between Australia and Israel, and enabling me to confirm again publicly before you all what I have said throughout my political career, that I am a lifelong friend of the state of Israel. On the question of Israel, Australia has made absolutely clear its determination not to participate in the Durban Review Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Geneva.

The Durban Review Conference should have been an occasion for the world to unite against racism in all its forms. Australia has worked with a range of countries in Geneva in weeks leading up to the conference, promoting an acceptable outcome document from the review conference.

Regrettably it became clear that that was not the resolve of other states participating in the Geneva conference. Some other states. And instead, the conference was heading in the reverse direction.
Australia cannot support and will not support a document which reaffirms the 2001 Durban Declaration and Program of Action. That 2001 declaration singled out Israel.

Inflammatory remarks of President Ahmadinejad of Iran at the conference are unacceptable and underline the Australian Government’s decision not to attend the Durban Conference.

The Australian Government condemns the continued campaign of anti-Semitism on behalf of the Government of Iran...