Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Payman for going through the usual processes to reach out to parties to request support for leave to be granted for a non-conforming petition. The government indicated to Senator Payman we would give leave. Consistently with that, we will support the suspension of standing orders to enable the petition to be tabled.

The second point is in response to Senator Cash, who does not agree with the content of the petition. I would make the point to her that, as a matter of Senate convention, there are many non-conforming petitions which are tabled in this place. She could have agreed to allow this to be tabled, just as others have, even if she takes issue with its contents.

The third point I would make is this: we can't avert our eyes from what is happening in Gaza. We cannot avert our eyes from the fact that we see a humanitarian catastrophe. We cannot pretend, as some seem to wish to, that tens of thousands of innocent people have not been killed in this conflict. It is true: Hamas is a terrorist organisation dedicated to the destruction of the State of Israel. But that is not an answer to the fact that the government of Israel has made a decision to withhold food and supplies entering Gaza. We have made very clear statements as a government about that. For the reasons I have outlined, the government does intend to give leave. I move:

That the question be now put.

Question agreed to.