Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Hansard source

This motion was only circulated in the chamber immediately before housekeeping, and it was only emailed to all parties at 11.53 this morning, so it is fair to say that the usual courtesies were not applied to these amendments. The coalition will support the motion moved by the Labor Party. I note yesterday in question time that Senator Bob Carr said he would have preferred a motion that would be supported across the chamber. The coalition would like the same but would not compromise with those who qualify their condemnation of the violence of Hamas with the criticism of a nation simply defending its civilians. It is disappointing that yesterday Labor could not support a simple, unqualified and unconditional condemnation of the rocket attacks upon Israel orchestrated by Hamas, because there is a very simple truth: if the rockets from Hamas stop, there is no need for Israeli action.