WA parliament suspends Nationals MP over Gaza art exhibit controversy
National Party MP Lachlan Hunter was barred from Western Australia’s parliament for four days after labeling a Gaza-related art display as antisemitic.
An art installation titled "Wall of Tears," created by American artist Phil Buehler and featuring the names of more than 18,000 Gaza children killed since October 2023, was displayed in the Western Australian parliamentary courtyard. Nationals MP Lachlan Hunter argued the exhibit condemned the state’s Jewish community and labeled it antisemitic after Greens MP Sophie McNeill described the work as depicting genocide. During the ensuing debate, Hunter disputed the deputy speaker’s rulings and continued speaking beyond the allotted time, prompting Speaker Stephen Price to deem his conduct a breach of chamber rules.
The legislative assembly voted to suspend Hunter for four days, a motion opposed by several Liberal, Nationals and independent MPs. Hunter later accused the Labor speaker of politicising the suspension, while Premier Roger Cook defended the decision as a matter of parliamentary decorum.
Why it matters
The incident highlights tensions over free expression, antisemitism accusations and parliamentary conduct in Australia.
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