The chemical weapons attack in Syria which has killed at least 58 people, many of them children, is a barbaric and criminal act.
Chemical weapons are forbidden by the UN and those responsible for this despicable act should be held to account.
This attack again highlights the brutality of the Assad regime towards its own people, and confirms it should have no place in a future, stable post-war Syria. Labor strongly supports the decision to call an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council and urges immediate action to condemn this attack, and act against those responsible.
Last month marked the 6th anniversary of the start of the Syrian civil war, a tragic conflict which has now claimed the lives of close to half a million people.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria has forced over half of Syrias pre-conflict population to flee their homes, and left at least 13.5 million Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance.
The UN Security Council must act as one to take necessary action to protect the Syrian people from further atrocities.
Labor calls on Russia to use its influence on the Assad regime to prevent further attacks against Syrias innocent civilian population.