Opposition Concerned Recognising Palestine State Is ‘Rewarding Terrorists’

Angus Taylor said there was no clarity that Hamas would be excluded from this future government or fully demilitarised.

Palestinians walk along a street near war-damaged buildings in Gaza City on Aug. 8, 2025. Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images

Australian Shadow Defence Minister Angus Taylor is concerned that the federal government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state is “rewarding terrorists.”

This comes after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong revealed they would recognise the State of Palestine.

Taylor said that while he supported peace in the Middle East, he had major concerns with the government’s position.

“The risk here ... is that this is rewarding terrorists. This is a reward to Hamas for what they started on Oct. 7,” Taylor told Sky News Australia. 

Taylor also said there was a risk the decision by the Albanese government was “premature.”

“We all want to see commitment towards agreed borders. The trouble is ... we’re not there yet and the risk is that this is then premature, that it doesn’t bring the tragedy that we’ve seen to an end, that it’s ongoing, and we don’t see the lasting peace, which we all want,” he said.

On Oct. 7 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel and captured more than 200 hostages. Since then, more than 1.,700 people have died in Israel and a reported  61,000 people have been killed in Palestine.

Taylor pointed out that preconditions necessary for lasting peace needed to be in place. These include the release of hostages by Hamas, demilitarisation of Hamas, and Hamas having no role in a future government.

“We haven’t got a commitment, a clear commitment to peaceful coexistence and recognition of Israel, agreed borders. These were the preconditions that we’ve all talked about for a long while,” Taylor said. 

“We all want to see international support for the release of hostages. We all want to see international support for the demilitarisation of Hamas. We all want to see support for the recognition and peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel, and the recognition of Israel as part of that. We all want to see commitment towards agreed borders.”

Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash raised alarm with Albanese’s decision and pointed out not all hostages had been released.

“Despite his words today, the reality is Albanese has committed Australia to recognising Palestine while hostages remain in tunnels under Gaza and with Hamas still in control of the population of Gaza. Nothing he has said today changes that fact,” she said on Aug. 11.

She wanted the Albanese government to explain why they were moving forward with recognition while Hamas still held hostages.

“Labor should explain how they can ensure there will be no involvement of Hamas in a future Palestinian government,” she said.

Albanese Defends Palestine State Decision

Albanese admitted Australia was not a big player in the Middle East but said part of his decision was about building global momentum.

Speaking on Sunrise on Aug. 12, Albanese said recognising a state of Palestine sends a message that the international community is saying “enough is enough.”

Albanese said it was time to help put an end to the conflict that had gone on for 77 years.

“The international community are saying we need to find a solution that provides security for the State of Israel, but also recognises the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for their own state,” he said.

“And that’s why countries like the UK, France, Canada and now Australia, but other countries as well, will be joining in September at the U.N. to join the 147 countries that have already recognised Palestine.”

Albanese was tight-lipped when asked what he would do if the United States voted against the plan for a Palestinian state.

“President [Donald] Trump, of course, has been a very strong advocate for peace in the Middle East, as he has in other parts of the world as well,” Albanese said.

“We want to see the world move forward on this, and certainly President Trump has been a very strong advocate for peace. President Trump will, of course, make decisions based upon the interests of the United States.”