Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question and for the parliamentary bipartisan support for the actions we have taken. We know that, since those terrible events by the Hamas terrorists on October 7, we've witnessed a number of appalling antisemitic attacks against Australia's Jewish community. We have been clear that these attacks have no place in Australia, and the government asked ASIO and the AFP to investigate as a priority. I do want to thank the extraordinary work that has been done to get to the bottom of what has been quite a complex issue.

ASIO has now gathered enough credible intelligence to reach a deeply disturbing conclusion—that the Iranian government directed at least two of these attacks. Iran has sought to disguise its involvement through the use of criminal elements being paid here in Australia. ASIO assesses that, apart from these two attacks, it is likely that there are more as well. These were extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression, orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil. They were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord in our community.

It is totally unacceptable, and the Australian government is taking strong and decisive action in response. The Iranian ambassador is being expelled. We were briefed by ASIO yesterday. We went through our appropriate processes and ensured that the Australian diplomats who are based in Tehran were able to get safely to a third country before these revelations became public, because of concern for their safety. I confirm that that has occurred, and we have suspended operations at the embassy in Tehran. The government will legislate so that we can list Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, as a terrorist organisation. The actions of my government send a very clear message to nations like Iran who seek to interfere in our country that their aggression will not be tolerated.

As we face those who seek to do us harm, Australia must stand together. We briefed, prior to the press conference, the premiers of Victoria and New South Wales. As well, I spoke with Rabbi Shlomo Kohn of the Adass Israel synagogue. We also spoke with the restaurant in the member for Wentworth's electorate that was impacted by this.

There are more investigations going on, I must say, so there is a limit to what information the ASIO Director-General and the officials will give. Obviously, our priority is making sure that the perpetrators of this, direct and indirect, are brought to justice, and we don't want to engage in any talk that potentially disrupts the investigations which are ongoing. As I said, it's very clear to ASIO and the Director-General that there are at least two accounts. The government has been briefed and, certainly, I would hope that the Leader of the Opposition and appropriate people on the other side, as well, will take advantage of a briefing.

It is the case that this is the most serious response that any Australian government has given. We don't expel an ambassador lightly, because of the consequences of that, which obviously aren't all upside, but we do think that it is an appropriate response given the extraordinary behaviour and the direct link that they have been able to draw through a direct chain to individuals and to the IRGC.

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