Julia Irwin (born 8 November 1951), Australian politician, was an Australian Labor Party (ALP) member of the Australian House of Representatives from October 1998 to July 2010, representing the Division of Fowler, New South Wales. Irwin was born in Sydney and was variously a bank officer, trade union administration officer and electorate officer before entering politics. In September 2005 Irwin was involved in a controversy over comments she made about Israel. On 13 September Irwin made a speech in Parliament characterising Israel's policies as "ethnic cleansing", and Gaza as a "concentration camp" (Hansard - House of Representatives, 13 September 2005, pp 95; see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Irwin ).
Former Federal Australian Labor MP Julia Irwin on Zionist influence in the Labor Party (2010): “[My views on Israel/Palestine[ have been broadly in line [with ALP policy]… [I support] an active role for the United Nations in the peace process”… [my view] upset Israel supporters in Caucus… When I put the question of UN involvement to [Israeli Defence Minister] Ehud Barak when he visited Australia, he almost exploded… . Many members and senators from right-wing unions have had close links with the Israeli union movement over the years and have maintained entrenched views… I should add that many of my colleagues these days begin a conversation with the remark, ‘I know we don’t see eye to eye on the Middle East but’ … [I was told I should] visit the Holocaust Museum, visit Israel and meet with members of various Jewish organisations [but] these requests have not been followed up. After one speech on Palestine, the ALP chief whip tore up my application for leave from the House when I was to attend an Inter Parliamentary Union meeting in Geneva. This was later approved but not before some emotional displays on both sides…[1 have] enjoyed strong support from many rank-and-file members of the ALP… There is obviously a strong groundswell of support within the ALP for a more independent position when it comes to the Israel/Palestine conflict… Then, strangely, at the Caucus meeting on the Tuesday before he was deposed as Prime Minister, I had gone up to Kevin to ask him to sign a hardback edition of The True Believers which had been signed by all Party leaders from Gough Whitlam. Kevin was surprisingly friendly and inquired about the reaction of supporters of the Palestinian cause to the government’s handling of the expulsion of an Israeli diplomat over the theft of Australian passports and his statement calling for an inquiry into the Mavi Marmara incident. His remarks led me to believe that there had been some change in the government’s position with regard to Israel even if it was only a small step from being totally uncritical… at least one ALP member receives big donations from Palestinian interests but is silent on the issue… [I have never received donations from groups with] direct links to Palestinian interests… support for Palestine will swiftly end any prospect of a front bench position. Even a hint of offence can result in an immediate unconditional apology… :For all MPs there is the desire to ‘play it safe’. Why make enemies over an issue which does not directly affect your local community? And I have to add that many Labor members have an intense dislike of Arabic people. That’s something that comes across in their less-guarded moments. They will talk about human rights abuse in every corner of the world, but not Palestine…On the Labor side (and as far as I know the same applies to the Liberals), a newly selected member for a winnable seat is hosted to a private fund raising dinner. A table full of Jewish businessmen are happy to hand over $10,000 for the candidate’s first campaign. That’s a big bonus for a new member and many never forget the generosity. I was never afforded such an honour but I can say that I would have been suspicious of the motive… a visit to Israel is almost a rite of passage for new MPs and Senators… [display by hosts of ] backward Arabs threatening such an enlightened society… It [the Israeli Lobby] cannot afford to snub Labor even if most Jewish voters live in blue ribbon Liberal seats… I have no doubt that senior ALP figures have promised to end my career on more than one occasion. At the grass roots level, in the branches and the wider electorate, the lobby has no influence. Only at the highest levels can a member be threatened. But a party which allows that to happen is not worthy of public support… [Israel may have ] passed the point of no return… There can be no ethnic cleansing of the occupied territories… Despite the belief of the Israeli leadership, time is not on their side.. [I grew up shamed] at our complicity of abuse and discrimination against Jewish people… now I ask, what has changed? How could such a people condone the oppression of others?... [Israel]cannot survive a cultural and academic boycott … While politically Israel lurches further to the right, Israelis must come to realise that they are all judged by the actions of their leaders.” [1].
[1]. Antony Loewenstein, “Departing ALP member tells of deep Zionist influence in party”, 10 August 2010: http://antonyloewenstein.com/2010/08/10/departing-alp-member-tells-of-deep-zionist-influence-in-party/