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

This is a defensive capability which is in response to requests we have received from Gulf countries. I understand you want a black-and-white binary question on this war, and you're entitled to not support it; I appreciate that. But I think it is wrong to try and look at this as if this is a different decision to that which has been announced. What has been announced is a defensive capability responding to requests to protect Gulf countries from strikes against their citizens, including civilian infrastructure like airports, in locations where there are Australians. You might want to demonise that but it is wrong to suggest that this is not a capability about defending civilians. (Time expired)