EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION: It began in June 2025 as a once-faithful reader’s complaint to The Conversation — a “research-based” outlet with 47 million readers — about an article on Israel’s claimed right of self-defence in Gaza, by a Commonwealth-funded Professor of International Law. On publication day, they dismissed my complaint; the next morning, they quietly scrubbed “Here’s what the law says” from the title. As attempts at redress failed, FOI requests to the Australian National University yielded the author’s original submissions for two articles. The comparison revealed a pattern of editors abusing academic authority to provide legal cover for international crimes.
Free Palestine Melbourne Feed Items
Earth’s Greatest Enemy: Film & Panel with Abby Martin (Mon 27 July)
—Mon. 27 July 2026, 6:15 pm arrival for 6:30–9pm, Sun Theatre Yarraville. Abby Martin's Earth's Greatest Enemy, followed by a conversation with Dave Sweeney (ACF).
The Return, a play by Ala’a Al Qaisi (15–22 Sep, Melbourne & regional Vic)
—As war tears through Gaza, a father waits beneath the clouds for his daughters to come home. The Return Project and Free Palestine Melbourne are proud to present The Return, a play by award winning Palestinian Australian writer and director, Ala’a Al Qaisi. A powerful theatrical event not to be missed. Part dream, part revelation, The Return is […]
Press release: The Return, a new play by award-winning writer Ala’a Al Qaisi, comes to Victorian theatres this September
—The Return Project and Free Palestine Melbourne are proud to present The Return, a play by award-winning Palestinian Australian writer and director, Ala’a Al Qaisi.
Free Palestine Melbourne’s Submission to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion
—Free Palestine protests are not antisemitic; they are a democratic response to mass killing and Australia’s complicity in it. Yet the Royal Commission heard witnesses brand them as hate on evidence untested by cross-examination and uncorroborated by the vast public record of 2.5 years of rallies, while descriptions of “gangs of young Muslim men” passed without challenge. Free Palestine Melbourne’s submission exposes the conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism for what it is: not a defence of social cohesion, but a means to silence criticism of a genocide. To brand a people’s demand for equality as hate is itself anti-Palestinian racism.
Internationally renowned actor and activist Khalid Abdalla voices support for Free Marwan Barghouti campaign at Naksa Day Rally
—British Egyptian actor and activist Khalid Abdalla (The Kite Runner, The Crown, The Square) spoke at the Free Palestine Naksa Day Rally in Naarm on Sunday June 7 where he mentioned his connection to the Free Marwan Barghouti campaign and paid tribute to the Free Palestine Melbourne movement.
Whose ABC? How Australia’s Public Broadcaster Failed Its Legal Obligations During Genocide
—State-funded broadcasters carry special obligations under international law that commercial outlets don’t. When the World Court put states on notice of a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza, Australia’s public broadcaster should have reported it plainly. Instead, for over two years, it referred the word “genocide” upward; it humanised Israelis 1.58 times more than Palestinians; and it unlawfully sacked Antoinette Lattouf for sharing evidence of Israel’s crimes, then chose to spend over $2.6M in taxpayer money defending its surrender to the Israel lobby. Under cover of “impartiality”, this is how “our ABC” primed Australians to consent to complicity in genocide.
How Australian Newspapers Restricted Reporting on Israel’s Crimes in Gaza, and the Hind Rajab Blackout Case Study
—In November 2023, more than 270 Australian journalists signed an open letter calling for fairer Gaza coverage. Consequently, senior editors at Nine's mastheads, all of whom had taken lobby-funded trips to Israel, banned signatories from covering the conflict. Two months later, an Israeli tank fired on an ambulance the army had cleared to reach six-year-old Hind Rajab, killing her and the paramedics. It made headlines worldwide — but across 2024, News Corp and Nine published no original reporting on it. This editorial blackout of verified atrocity crimes is a distinct mechanism of impunity, erasing the victims and enabling the perpetrators.
Anti-Palestine Bias in The Australian: Dehumanisation and Erasure as Editorial Policy
—The Australian epitomises editorial complicity: it published a denial of deliberate starvation two weeks after leaked Israeli cabinet transcripts confirmed it was chosen as a strategy of war; it printed over 100 pro-Israel letters and none critical, as 300,000 Australians marched for humanity; and while it referenced Randa Abdel-Fattah in 412 articles, our research found 148 referencing Louise Adler, including 23 dedicated attack pieces, 17 alone in the fortnight of her Adelaide Writers’ Week resignation. John Lyons, its former Jerusalem correspondent, says only three people can tell its editors what to run: Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, and AIJAC’s Colin Rubenstein.
Counterweight: How Australian Media Crushed Public Pressure to Prevent Genocide
—For over two years, Australian media counterweighted the largest sustained protest movement in Australia’s history, dissipating public pressure to prevent Israel’s genocide. This cornerstone submission traces a lobby–media–state nexus through lobby-funded travel cultivating compliant editors; co-ordinated complaints, smears, sackings and litigation enforcing silence; and the exploitation of Bondi grief to recast solidarity as bigotry and manufacture a mandate to criminalise it. The Royal Commission now interrogating public discourse has itself adopted the lobby’s definition of antisemitism. Australian media didn’t just fail the public’s right to know; it primed consent for complicity in genocide, and for punishing those who oppose it.
Media Release: A Failure of Responsible Journalism
—25 May 2026: Free Palestine Melbourne condemns the Herald Sun’s front-page headline characterising Marwan Barghouti solely as a “convicted Palestinian terrorist.” This framing, employed by journalists Alex White and Carly Douglas, reflects a troubling pattern of one-sided reporting on Palestinian affairs...
Film Screening: Tantura
—Fri. 19 June 2026, 6:15pm, Cinema Nova VIC: Join Free Palestine Melbourne’s screening of Tantura, a documentary film directed by Alon Schwarz that examines the events surrounding the Palestinian coastal village of Tantura in 1948 during the Nakba.
Webinar: ‘Breaking the Chain: Freedom for Palestinian Political Prisoners’ (15 April)
—Wed 15 April 6:30pm: Abduction, imprisonment & torture are crucial tools of Israel’s genocide & occupation in Palestine. Hear the truth from behind the bars - and demand freedom for Palestinian political prisoners.
Film Screening: Tomorrow’s Freedom (17 April)
—Fri 17 April 6:30pm Cinema Nova: Join Free Palestine Melbourne’s screening of Tomorrow’s Freedom, a documentary telling the story of Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti — described as Palestine’s Nelson Mandela.
What’s On Mar 30-Apr 5 2026
—What’s On around Naarm/Melbourne & regional Victoria: Mar 30-Apr 5, 2026
What’s On Feb 23-Mar 01 2026
—What’s On around Naarm/Melbourne & regional Victoria: Feb 23-Mar 01, 2026
Media Release: Free Palestine Melbourne launches campaign demanding release of Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti from Israeli prison
—Free Palestine Melbourne has launched a campaign demanding Australia push for the immediate release of Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, imprisoned by Israel since 2002. Amid escalating threats to his life, the campaign joins a global call backed by hundreds of prominent figures worldwide.
Public Forum: Unite to fight racism
—Wednesday 25 February 2026, 6:30pm, Trades Hall, 54 Victoria St, Melbourne.
Protest the visit of Israeli President Herzog to Australia
—Nationwide protest Monday 9 February 2026 - Melbourne, 5:30pm at Flinders Street Station.
What’s On Jan 26 – Feb 1 2026
—What’s On around Naarm/Melbourne & Regional Victoria: Jan 26 - Feb 1, 2026
Media Release: Free Palestine Melbourne rejects Labor’s draconian bill
—16 January 2026: Free Palestine Melbourne rejects Labor’s proposed hate speech bill as a dangerous and anti-democratic measure that will stifle free speech and Palestine activism.
Protest Israel’s President! War Criminals NOT Welcome Here
—Israeli President Herzog could be coming to Australia at any time, so we need to be ready to act at short notice. For alerts, follow on Instagram and subscribe to our email list.
Snap Action 14 Jan 2026: Solidarity with the British hunger strikers
—Snap Action, 5pm, Wednesday 14 January 2026; outside the British Consulate, 1 Collins St, Melbourne VIC.
Media Release: Palestinian existence is not “culturally insensitive”
—10 January 2026: We stand in solidarity with Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah following her expulsion from the Adelaide Festival's Writers’ Week program. We condemn the Festival's very clear and unambiguous anti-Palestinian racism.
Media Release: Join the march against genocide and Albanese’s invitation to Israeli President to visit Australia
—29 December 2025: The Free Palestine movement will rally outside of the State Library of Victoria on Sunday, 11 January 2026 at 12pm to oppose Israeli violations and protest the visit of Israeli President, Isaac Herzog to Australia.