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

Thank you, Senator Darmanin, for the question. I know that you and so many members of this place and the other place have many constituents, and relatives of constituents, who are very concerned about what is happening and the situation particularly for the travellers who have not been able to leave the UAE and other ports. This is a perilous and unpredictable time in the Middle East, and over the past 24 hours the conflict in the region has escalated and expanded. On a single day, 2 March, Iran fired missiles or drones at nine countries in the region. The Deputy Prime Minister has confirmed that this included the Al Minhad facility, which is used by Australian troops. We can confirm that all ADF personnel at embassies and deployed throughout the region are safe and accounted for. Iran has launched attacks on Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, including a drone attack as far away as a UK military base in Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean. We condemn these reckless attacks by Iran, including against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The regime is also threatening to attack vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, jeopardising global oil supplies and shipments. We call on Iran to cease these actions. The Albanese government has made clear that it supports actions to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security. The Iranian regime has shown in recent days why it remains a threat to peace and stability in the region, and its violence risks further destabilising an already volatile region. We do not want to see further regional escalation. We urge the protection of civilian life, we call for adherence to international humanitarian law, and we stand with the brave people of Iran.