Daud Batchelor

Australia’s foreign policy on Israel and Palestine is increasingly indefensible. The Albanese government talks the language of international law, yet its actions fall far short of what the scale of the bloodshed and destruction demands, leaving Australia aligned with an Israeli war machine that many international bodies confirm has deliberately committed genocide in Gaza.

The First Australasian and Southeast Asian Muslim Youth Summit (ASEAMYS) 2026, held in Brisbane on 5–6 February 2026, marked a historic milestone in empowering Muslim youth regionally. Gathering young leaders, scholars, and community activists from across Australia, NZ, SE Asia, and the Pacific, the Summit demonstrated that Muslim youth are ready to engage with contemporary challenges while remaining firmly rooted in Islam.

Being a Muslim young adult today isn’t easy. Across Australia, many Muslim youth are pushing forward while facing Islamophobia, hidden job discrimination, increasing generational inequity, especially around affordable housing, and confusion about gender roles, such as in managing families. Add to that the pernicious influence of drugs, pornography and destructive digital habits, ongoing global geopolitical instability, threats of nuclear mass destruction, and exacerbating environmental crises.