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

The first point I'd make is the numbers I've been focused on have not been anybody's share price. The numbers I've been focused on are the numbers of Australians who are in the Middle East—and what we can do to support them and what we can do to facilitate them getting home. That is the first point I'd make. The second point is you're right; ordinary people do suffer in conflict. I'd invite you to consider the number of citizens who have been killed or injured by Iran's actions over decades. This did not start with the strikes on Saturday. This has been a long period of destabilising, aggressive terrorist sponsorship by Iran over decades, including of Hamas and Hezbollah, and we all know what that has meant. That is a reality that I understand you don't wish to engage with, but it is a reality.

The second point I'd make is—you referenced Ukraine. I don't think anybody in this chamber would think that Iran is Ukraine. Iran is not Ukraine. Iran has been a state sponsor of terrorism, including in this country—in your country. It has participated in attacks on Australians in our country. In terms of civilians, from the very first moment we called for and we will continue to call for international humanitarian law to be observed by all parties. We have done that consistently because we do believe that the protection of civilians matters. (Time expired)