Labor MP for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou, is one of two party backbenchers who have joined the calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Ms Vamvakinou and Labor Senator Fatima Payman attended a press conference on Thursday alongside members of the Greens party and several medical professionals, calling on the parliament to support a ceasefire.
According to ABC News, this statement came after a petition with over 40,000 signatures with the same demand from Australian medical professionals was presented to the parliament.
“This petition gives Australians an opportunity to tell this parliament that they too feel strongly about the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza,” Ms Vamvakinou said.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt was seen holding a copy of the ceasefire petition, while medical professionals present said that imploring government support was the only way forward in what now looks like a “collapsed healthcare system.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has made previous calls for “steps towards” a ceasefire, and the federal government more broadly has called for a humanitarian pause in fighting.
Source: ABC News
