MEDIA RELEASE - SA Labor under pressure tomorrow to end weapons & investment in Israel’s Genocide as Parliamentary motion looms
Tuesday 25 November 2025
SA Labor and Attorney-General Kyam Maher are under pressure in Parliament tomorrow to vote to end South Australia’s weapons exports and public investments in the Palestinian genocide, as human rights experts warn the State Government may be in breach of international law. The SA Parliament will consider the motion (below) tomorrow afternoon.
Human rights experts, including Amnesty International, are calling for SA Labor to divest public money from Israel and to stop SA weapons being used by Israel to commit crimes. The United Nations found that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people on 16 September 2025.(1)
Key Points:
The Legislative Council will face the motion at approximately 4pm Wednesday, with cross bench support expected. The motion calls for:
Funds SA divestment from any corporation complicit in genocide, abuses against the Palestinian people, and;
Review of the state’s export of weapons used by Israel.
The UN found Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people on 16 September 2025.
South Australia is home to BAE Systems which is a known producer of crucial components in F-35 Fighter Jets, used by Israel to bomb Palestinian civilians.
Although the SA Parliament passed laws to divest Funds SA from all Russian companies, no equivalent measures against Israeli companies have been taken.(2)
Quotes Attributable to Christa Christaki, Chairperson Australian Friends of Palestine Association:
“Premier Malinauskas & SA Labor have an obligation tomorrow to end our state’s export of weapons and public investments in the Palestinian genocide.
“The Premier passed strong laws quickly to divest Funds SA from Russian companies in May 2022 and given the UN finding of genocide, the same measures must be taken to protect Palestinian lives. Failure to act risks creating the misperception of a racial double standard when it comes to universal human rights.(3)
“There is a clear legal and moral obligation to support this motion and tomorrow will be the last chance the Parliament has before the March state election to do so.
“South Australians have watched this genocide live-streamed for 2 years and we have marched in our thousands against the mass slaughter of innocent civilians and children. Tomorrow, SA Labor has the chance to do the right thing.
‘If the Premier will not bind his caucus to vote to stop exports & investment in genocide, he should at least allow a conscience vote. Ending potential complicity in genocide is surely a conscience matter of the highest order.”
AFOPA Media Contact: Tahlia 0424 501 616
Amnesty International available for comment
Dr. Juliette McIntyre Uni SA ICJ expert available for comment.
Amnesty International and AFOPA wrote to the Attorney-General and Premier earlier this year, calling for action. (Letter available on request)
Motion:
That this Council –
Notes that the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry, Amnesty International and multiple Israeli human rights organisations have found that the Israeli Government is committing the crime of genocide against the Palestinian people;
Notes that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has deemed Israel’s ethnic cleansing and occupation of Palestinian land illegal under international law and has ordered that states employ all means reasonably available to prevent genocide in Gaza;
Notes that under international law, South Australia can be held liable for complicity by aiding or assisting genocide or human rights abuses;
Notes that the Commonwealth of Australia formally recognised the independent and sovereign State of Palestine on 21 September 2025;
Calls on the South Australian Government to review any exports of weapons and weapons components from South Australia which may be used by the Israeli Government to commit genocide and/or human rights abuses against the Palestinian people;
Calls on the South Australian Government to divest all public entities (including Funds SA) from any corporation which may be complicit in genocide and/or human rights abuses against the Palestinian people, as was done for Russian entities following the illegal invasion of Ukraine; and
Urges the South Australian Government to end all current and future public investment and subsides for weapons or weapons components which may be used by the Israeli Government to commit genocide and/or human rights abuses against the Palestinian people.
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(1) United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), “Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, UN Commission finds”, 16 September 2025
(2) Premier of South Australia, “Government moves to terminate Funds SA’s Russian investments”, May 2022
(3) Premier of South Australia, “Government moves to terminate Funds SA’s Russian investments”, May 2022
