Clearly, the Australian media has little interest in reporting on any local reaction to the catastrophe in Gaza.

In a week when the global community expressed horror at ongoing Israeli atrocities, the Australian media ignored the fact that the Australian Government had failed to support the very strong demand from Britain, Canada and France for an end to Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Did any journalist ask the prime minister for an explanation? What is the policy of the second term Albanese Government towards the Netanyahu regime? The foreign minister repeats her mantra about ceasefire and the two-state solution, but when will she recall our ambassador and impose sanctions on Israel?

On a wet Thursday, 22 May, after a three-hour train ride from Jervis Bay NSW to Wolli Creek, a friend drove me (Rees) to the prime minister’s electoral office in Marrickville, NSW, to deliver a plea from “Australians for Humanity” asking that the government intervene to end the genocide in Gaza. Together with a large group protesting the likely murder of thousands of babies in Gaza, I bargained with police to allow presentation of the plea to the PM’s office staff. I eventually entered that office and delivered the document.

At this point, media indifference or disinterest arises. Several media outlets were sent copies of the plea which argued that if the government wanted to show respect for the UN Charter, for the rulings of the ICJ or for the UN 2005 principles “The Responsibility to Protect (R2P)”, there were several ways in which it could act. Only the ABC responded to our statement, but merely to indicate they receive many news stories but cannot use them all!

Regarding this massive show of inhumanity, where were the ABC’s investigative reporters? How can our national broadcaster ignore the obvious reality that our government continues to pretend that Australia has no responsibility for international law?

The mainstream media is reluctant or apparently frightened to publish anything resembling our “Australians for Humanity” proposals that a Western government naval force escort humanitarian aid ships to the coast of Gaza or that the government urge the UN Security Council to dispatch an international peace force to Gaza. Along with proposals to withdraw our ambassador and expel the Israeli ambassador, proposals for intervention should at least be aired.

Quite apart from standards of professional journalism, values inherent in respect for a common humanity could surely have prompted some media interest in the events outside and inside the prime minister’s electoral office last week?

But within the next few weeks, the media will have a significant opportunity to redeem themselves. They can show interest in a New York, UN-organised meeting (17 to 20 June) to consider states’ interest in voting on Palestinian statehood. They can report how Australia will vote.

Recognising the state of Palestine has been Australian Labor Party policy for more than seven years. How much longer must a besieged, slaughtered people wait for powerful nations to summon courage to vote for the rules of the Geneva Convention, as in a people’s rights to self-determination and against US/Israel cruelties and indifference to international law?

That’s a line the media could take.

It’s possible that Australian national media will not find time to cover that New York meeting. But as to how Australia votes and the reasoning it uses, it will be impossible for Australia to avoid the scrutiny of the global community.

The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.