Uniting Church National Assembly response: Palestinian Visas
The Uniting Church National Assembly has responded to an election commitment by the Opposition Leader that visas for Palestinians from Gaza should be reassessed
April 24, 2025
MEDIA RELEASE - 24 APRIL 2025
The Uniting Church in Australia strongly opposes Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's election commitment yesterday that under a Coalition government, the visas of Palestinians from Gaza would be re-assessed.
We reject any implication of this proposal that people fleeing the horrors of war inherently pose a national security risk. Such rhetoric is not only without evidence, but risks fuelling racial prejudice, discrimination and fear within our community.
"We call on our leaders to rise above division."
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.
“Gaza is in the grip of war, occupation and catastrophic humanitarian crisis,” said Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia. “Its people endure unrelenting violence, the destruction of homes, hospitals and essential infrastructure, the injury and death of loved ones, and the trauma of forced displacement.”
“These people are not threats to be feared, but survivors in need of safety and shelter.”
“Australia has a moral, spiritual and humanitarian responsibility to those fleeing war and violence. We must not close the door on those in need or unjustly target an already traumatised community. Our visa processes are extensive and rigorous. What is needed now is not suspicion, but solidarity.”
“At a time when fear is being weaponised in political debate, we call on our leaders to rise above division. Please act with moral courage, integrity and compassion. Model a vision for a nation that embraces and sees the potential in every person who calls this land home.”
In this same spirit, such leadership must also confront the deepening divides we see in our society, including growing intolerance and hate.
“The Uniting Church has long and unequivocally rejected antisemitism in all its forms,” said Rev Suli. “At this time, we are also highly alarmed by the escalating rise in Islamophobia. We long for a nation where all people of every faith and background can live with dignity, security and hope.”
Since our birth in 1977, the Uniting Church in Australia has sought to be guided by God’s call to love our neighbour, welcome the stranger and seek justice for the oppressed. As Scripture reminds us, “You shall not oppress the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9).
“When a nation closes its heart to the cries of the suffering, it does not grow in strength—it shrinks in soul,” said Rev Suli. “True power is not found in fear-driven policies, but in the courage to welcome the stranger, to stand with the wounded, and to build peace across every border.”
The Uniting Church stands in unwavering solidarity with all those impacted so immensely by war and displacement. We stand against any policy or political narrative that dehumanises people seeking refuge or seeks to divide our communities.
Further Reading
More news from the Assembly
Walking Together in Faith and Hope: UCA renews Tuvalu Partnership
Walking Together in Faith and Hope The Uniting Church in Australia has renewed its partnership with the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT) this week, reaffirming a shared commitment to faith, solidarity and climate justice as Tuvalu faces an increasingly uncertain future.As rising seas continue to threaten the future of Tuvalu, the Uniting Church in Australia has…
Tending the Soul
Tending the SoulQueensland Ministry Agents Retreat with President Rev. Charissa SuliBy President Rev Charissa SuliThis week, ministry agents from across Queensland gathered at the Queensland Synod All Presbyteries Ministry Agents Retreat on the Sunshine Coast with President Rev. Charissa Suli. Leaders came together carrying the realities of ministry across diverse communities, held together by a shared call to serve and…
Uniting Church welcomes launch of TECS
Uniting Church welcomes launch of TECS By Paul WallbankThe Uniting Church in Australia participated in this week’s launch of SSI’s new Train, Engage, Connect and Support e-learning resource, to aid faith and community leaders in building confidence to recognising and responding to cases of family, domestic and sexual violence. Launched on Tuesday, 19 May by the Minister for Social Services, the Hon Tanya Plibersek, at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir Centre in Sydney’s Rosehill, the free online training program aims to equip leaders with the…
Gathered for the Generations
Gathered for the Generations Subscribe to our newsletterIf you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.By Rev. Sandy BrodineVicTas Younger Generation Education and Strategy CoordinatorLast week, children, families, youth, and young adult workers from across the Uniting Church came together in…
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
Reflections from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference By Paul WallbankAhead of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, President Rev. Charissa Suli joined Heads of Churches and Christian leaders from across Australia for an Ecumenical Prayer Service hosted by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in Sydney last week. Held by the Bishops’ Commission for Christian Unity and Inter-religious Dialogue at the Mary MacKillop Memorial…
Standing for Justice
Standing for JusticeThe Uniting Church’s Submission to the Racism InquiryBy Michael ZewdieOn 8 May 2026, the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) and the Uniting Church in Australia made a joint submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, which is conducting an inquiry into racism, hatred and violence…
Assembly Pride Circle Gathers for the First Time
By Rev Greer Hudson Responding to both our commitment to being a loving, safe and inclusive Church and the long history of struggle and marginalization of LGBTIQA+ members within the UCA, and guided by resolutions from the 15th,16th and 17th Assemblies, the Assembly Standing Committee resolved…