Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)   condemns the boycott of Israel instigated by Marrickville Council—part of the Global Boycott Divestments and Sanctions—banning any links with Israeli organisations or organisations that support Israel and prohibiting any academic, government, sporting or cultural exchanges with Israel;

(b)   acknowledges that Israel is a legitimate and democratic state and a good friend of Australia; and

(c)   denounces the Israeli boycott by Marrickville Council and others, and condemns any expansion of it.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move an amendment to that motion.

Leave granted.

I thank the Senate and I move the following amendment:

Omit all words after "That", substitute, "the Senate recognises the rights of the people of Palestine and Israel to live together as self-governing states based on the 1967 borders.

For clarity, the motion would then read in its entirety:

That the Senate recognises the rights of the people of Palestine and Israel to live together as self-governing states based on the 1967 borders.

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I rise on a point of order. Can you give us a ruling on whether that completely changes the nature of the motion and therefore should be ruled out?

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is relevant to the motion, Senator Joyce, but it does change the entire context of the motion. That is what the Senate will now vote on.

Question put:

That the amendment (Senator Brown's) be agreed to.

The Senate divided. [16:31]

(The Deputy PRESIDENT—Senator Parry)

Question negatived.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I indicate that I did not support the Greens' motion not because it did not have merit, because I believe it does in relation to going back to the 1967 borders, but because it would have wiped out Senator Boswell's motion which condemned the boycott, and I thought that motion in itself is worthy with appropriate amendment. I indicate to Senator Brown and to the Australian Greens that, if there is a stand-alone motion that is repeated on the Notice Paper in relation to the 1967 borders about the states of Palestine and Israel, I would certainly be happy to support it. I also seek leave to move that an additional paragraph be added to the motion.

Leave granted.

I move:

After paragraph (c), insert:(d) notes:

(i) the detrimental effect of the Israeli and Egyptian blockade in Gaza on the Palestinian people living in Gaza, and

(ii) that Australia is a good friend of the Palestinian territories and its people.

I seek leave to make a further one-minute explanation.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will need less than that, Mr Deputy President. This amend­ment to the motion is identical to an amend­ment which was supported by the coalition that I made to a motion in the Senate on 11 May 2011 that was moved by, I believe, Senator Abetz in similar terms. I seek the support of my colleagues, particularly those in the coalition who previously supported the identical amendment.

Question put:

That the amendment (Senator Xenophon's) be agreed to.

The Senate divided. [16:39]

(The Deputy PRESIDENT—Senator Parry)

Question negatived.

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You are seeking leave to make a fairly short statement?

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just for a minute. Can I indicate that I will, with some reluctance, support Senator Boswell's motion because—

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just one moment, Senator Xenophon. Leave was sought, and I am getting that leave is denied. Leave has been denied.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Who has denied leave?

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Xenophon, leave has been denied to make a short statement, so unless you are raising a point of order—

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In that case I seek leave to make a long statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There has been a reconsideration at this end of the chamber. I will ask the question again. Senator Xenophon has sought leave to make a short statement. Is leave granted ? Leave has been granted for one minute, Senator Xenophon.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was the threat of the long statement, Mr Deputy President! Can I indicate that I will support Senator Boswell's motion with some reluctance. I do not support a boycott of Israel under any circumstances. I note, though, that Marrick­ville Council has sensibly overturned its previous motion in relation to this, which is welcome. But I am very disappointed that both the coalition and the government could not see fit to note the detrimental effect of the Israeli and Egyptian blockade on Gaza and the Palestinian people living in Gaza, and note that Australia is a good friend of the Palestinian territories and their people. I also note that the coalition did previously support this amendment, on 11 May. I support Senator Boswell's motion but I am dis­appointed that the amendment was not supported. I have got 15 seconds to go; I will sit down now, Mr Deputy President.

Original question put:

That the motion (Senator Boswell's) be agreed to.

The Senate divided. [16:46]

(The Deputy PRESIDENT—Senator Parry)

Question agreed to.