Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Not to disappoint Senator Wong, my question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. I refer to the Minister for Foreign Affairs's announcement last Tuesday reversing Australia's recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which was announced with initial denials by the minister's office on the Jewish Holy Day of Simchat Torah and just two weeks out from polling day in the Israeli elections. The Prime Minister has described as 'deeply regrettable' the government's handling of the announcement. He also said that it could have been done better and that it caused distress. Given these acknowledgements of failure, has the Prime Minister spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Lapid to apologise for the ham-fisted handling of this matter?