MEDIA STATEMENT | 25 JUNE 2025
Democracy in Colour Calls on the Australian Government to Withdraw its Support for Military Actions that Violate International Law and Harm POC Communities
National racial justice organisation Democracy in Colour is deeply concerned by the Australian Labor Government’s public support for the recent military strikes on Iran. This backing not only violates the principles of international law — it also aligns disturbingly with the foreign policy positions of former Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the far-right, undermining the safety of POC communities locally and globally.
Democracy in Colour calls on the Australian Government to withdraw its support for any military actions that violate international law, including but not limited to the USA strikes on Iran as well as Israel’s genocide in Palestine, and urges the government to commit to an independent foreign policy that centers the national interest of all Australians.
Over 500 Iranian citizens have been killed by Israel since it launched the first wave of unprovoked surprise attacks on Iran, on 13 June 2025, targeting major cities and hospitals. Ten days later, the United States escalated the conflict by joining Israel’s assault on Iran, carrying out airstrikes on multiple targets across the country.
The Australian Government’s endorsement of US strikes on Iran, and support for US unilateral military operations that have no legal mandate under the UN Charter, is an indication that the Labor government continues to apply double standards and undermine the safety and security of POC communities on this continent and worldwide.
Democracy in Colour National Director, Noura Mansour says: “It appears that our government has learnt the wrong lesson from the outcomes of the most recent elections. The results weren’t so much an endorsement of Labor’s policies as they were a rejection of Dutton’s pro Trump policies and rhetoric. Yet, a few weeks after the elections, we see Labor adopting Trumpian foreign policies and defending it, something we expect Dutton to do! This is not what Australia voted for.”
This inconsistency corrodes our moral standing on the global stage and exposes international law as a tool of selective enforcement—not a universal standard. Australia cannot build a safer region or a just world while turning a blind eye to illegal and immoral actions committed by allies.
“Why is Australia willing to sanction some states while offering diplomatic and military cover to others engaging in comparable actions? To do so is not just hypocritical—it is dangerous. It is time to implement a foreign policy rooted in justice, accountability, and the collective will of the people—not the impulses of unaccountable military alliances,” says Mansour.
Bella Beiraghi, Co-convenor of Students for Palestine Australia, says: “America, Israel and Australia say that Iran is a threat to the Middle East. But as we’ve seen over the last 20 months of the genocide in Gaza, it’s the Western imperialist alliance that is the biggest threat to the region. If the West is so concerned about weapons of mass destruction, then they should start by destroying their own.”
We reiterate our call for the Australian Government to withdraw its support for any military actions that violate international law, including strikes on Iran and genocide in Gaza, and commit to an independent foreign policy that reflects Australia’s national interests, not those of any foreign power, including Israel and USA. We call on the Labor government to uphold international law consistently, and prioritise diplomacy and peace for all equally.