Position wrongly claims Australian Foreign Minister approves aid to Palestinian authorities
Australia has not provided assistance to the Palestinian authorities, despite claims that Foreign Minister Penny Wong has approved $20 million to support the Ramallah-based agency for violent purposes. Instead, Australia has long provided funding to UN Palestinian refugees, which has provided funding for vulnerable Palestinians.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has covered her image and text, accusing her of approving “$20 million to kill Jews to the Palestinian Authority”, shared in Facebook posts starting April 20, 2025.
“Yes, guys, she uses your money to support the Palestinian authorities 'pay'pay'.”
The term “payment of killing” (sometimes referred to as “killing wages”) is used to criticize the long-term economic aid system of the Palestinian authorities based in Ramallah, whose constitution requires constitutional support for Israeli killing, injured or imprisoned people (archive link).
The plan has suffered setbacks over the years due to concerns from critics of Israel and the U.S. government, who believe it inspires and rewards violence by providing benefits to former Palestinian prisoners defined by Israel for “terrorism”.
Screenshot of fake posts, taken on May 2, 2025
Huang is an outstanding figure in the ruling Labor Party Hold The lead on its conservative opposition is narrow ahead of the fierce controversy on May 3 election (archive link).
Similar posts were circulated on social media, triggering strong reactions from users who believe the foreign minister has approved the aid.
“Pure evil,” said one user.
Another commented: “She needs to be fired from Australia right away.”
Like most of the world, the war in Gaza sparked protests from Israel and Palestinians in Australian cities, and the Albany government faces criticism from both sides (and archive links here and here).
Funds provided to UN agencies for Palestinian refugees
But the claim about Huang is actually without basis.
In 2018, Australia's then-Conservative government stopped aid, which indirectly provided assistance to the Palestinian Authority through the World Bank's Palestinian Recovery and Development Trust Fund, citing the fund that could be used to support individuals convicted of political violence (archive link).
Despite her confidence in previous Australian funding, then-Minister Julie Bishop said she was worried that “the opportunity to use her budget to activities in Australia will never support it”.
Canberra then allocated the money to the Palestinian territory of the United Nations Humanitarian Fund, which provides health care, food, water, water, improve sanitation and improve and Shelter (archive link).
Records show that this remains the same under the labor-led government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (a link to archive).
Australia continues to provide assistance to Palestinians through UN agencies, including core funding to UN Palestinian refugees or federal agency ($12.86 million)Archive link).
In January 2024, Wong suspended investment after accusing some of his employees of being involved in the October 7 attack on Israel (archive link).
The funding was restored two months later, three months after review by the country's National Security Council, Wong said, “near outdoors are not terrorist organizations” (archived link).
AFP Facts checked for other misinformation related to the Australian election, here and here.
