Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

If I may, Senator Anning, I didn't interject on you on this serious issue. It does reflect the seriousness of that report that the two parties of government have co-sponsored a foreign policy motion. It would be a good statement about the bipartisan view as to the need to respond to the serious war crimes and serious violations of human rights which have been documented in the UN report. It is not very often that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the shadow minister for foreign affairs co-sponsor a motion.

Senator Anning, I appreciate you have different views about different areas where the Senate should deal with these issues. We have previously placed on record, consistent with the position that has been in place for some time, that foreign policy questions that are complex and contested—and many of the ones to which you refer have been contested—given the nature of this part of the program where one cannot amend and there is not substantive debate, are not an appropriate vehicle for formal business. If you wish to deny formality for the reasons you've outlined, I think, frankly, that reflects upon you, Senator Anning.