Labor quashes any chance of dissent on Middle East conflict at tightly controlled national conference

Labor has managed to tightly control their three-day national conference in Adelaide, ironing out an anticipated heated debate on the Middle East conflict.

While backbencher Ed Husic had agitated for an Israel-Palestine resolution which called for stronger language including “genocide”, the debate had been muted by Saturday morning when their chapter on foreign and defence policy kicked off.

Instead the party heard a statement by Labor’s Basem Abdo and Josh Burns, which had been the culmination of three months of work to clarify the party’s position.

But Mr Husic told reporters on Saturday he was “disappointed” that his efforts were quashed and “surprised” at what he described was an “extraordinary amount of energy that has been applied to stop this”.

Mr Husic said the seconder who had been slated to support his movement had pulled out overnight, only finding out this morning that the resolution wouldn’t stand up.

“Clearly today’s a big disappointment. It’s a big disappointment because we haven’t had a chance to talk to an issue,” he said.

“What was disappointing. Just see the resolution is not going to be argued for a conference. But one thing I’m really confident to say is that it has the personal support of the majority of delegates.”

Mr Husic said Labor has “got to be able to do better” and the reports of dead children in Gaza should “send chills down the spine” of anyone.

“Once that chill exits that spine, steel has to replace them. We need to stand up. We need to work with other like-minded countries,” he said.

“This is an issue that is worth standing up on. I cannot be silent. The situation of Palestine is the moral issue of our times.”

When asked if the backbencher still believed he fit with the party, Mr Husic said he did.

“This party has been very important. It’s enabled me. It also supported me,” he said.

A push for a separate amendment on AUKUS was also scrapped before the session kicked off.

While pro-Palestine protestors had greeted Labor delegates, parliamentarians and supporters on Friday with chants for stronger action, rain across Adelaide washed out any action on arrival.

However, by mid-morning around 200 people had gathered at the front of the Adelaide convention centre with signs, banners and microphones.

The conference will finish just after midday with a closing speech from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

It comes after Mr Albanese used his speech at the National Conference Dinner on Friday evening to joke about his almost fell on a malfunctioning escalator at the convention centre.

“We are proud of representing working people and evolving over a period of time, as society has, to embrace gender equality, to embrace change in all of its forms, so no one is discriminated against for who they are,” he told attendees at the exclusive event.

“We are proudly a progressive movement. Two words that can’t be applied to the escalator in this building. It must be said.

“Now, when it did come to a standstill, I’ll admit there was a moment-just a moment-when the ladder of opportunity finally made sense. Thank you, Mark Latham.

“Who, after 20 years, we can finally laugh about making leader.”

Outgoing Labor president Wayne Swan and former Indigenous Minister Linda Burney were presented with life memberships at the event.