Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Minister, given your government's claims that you knew nothing about Premier Andrews's plans to cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games, are you concerned that neither the Prime Minister nor your government were warned of this decision and the impact of the Andrews government's decision on Australia's international reputation?

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

The decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games was a decision of the Victorian government, and I know that the opposition wish to try and play a bit of politics with this.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) | Link to this | Hansard source

And a disgraceful decision it was!

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

I'll take that interjection, and I suggest, Senator, that you might well go to Victoria and express that view—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

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

but it is not a decision—

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) | Link to this | Hansard source

Leaving regional communities in Victoria high and dry.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, I have called you to order. I ask that you respect that and don't continue to call out, particularly to call out to me. Minister, please continue.

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

Again, this is a decision of the Victorian government, and we understand the political views that Senator Henderson is interjecting on. But ultimately those are positions she ought probably to be raising in Victoria, rather than interjecting on my answer.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, President, I wasn't actually asking the minister in relation to the Victorian government. I was asking about the impact of the fact that the Commonwealth government was not consulted on the impact to Australia's international reputation—not Victoria's, Australia's international reputation—which I believe—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) | Link to this | Hansard source

as Minister for Foreign Affairs is probably your concern.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

May I remind senators, when you raise a point of order, you do it succinctly and you don't add additional bits. The minister's being directly relevant. In the first statement she made the minister directly addressed your question. Minister, do you have anything further to add?

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

I'm happy to add to the answer. I would make the point that I hope tonight, in terms of Australia's international reputation particularly for major sporting events, everyone will be watching the Matildas as we take on Canada and find our way into the next round of the World Cup.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Wong, please resume your seat.

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

Oh, look, have you got anything against—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Wong, I've asked you to resume your seat. Senator Ruston.

Government senators interjecting—

Order on my right! Senator Ruston.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is on relevance. As much as I'd love to see the Matildas win tonight and go on to the next round, I was actually asking about the Commonwealth Games. Perhaps the minister would like to be relevant to it.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Ruston. I will draw the minister back to your question.

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

In fairness, President, I was asked about our international reputation. Yes, we do care about that, and I could go through some history about some of the things that occurred under the previous government. My point is that the Commonwealth Games decision was the decision of the Victorian government. Yes, the implication in the question is right that our engagement in international sporting events is an important part of our face to the world. Obviously, this is a decision that the Andrews government has made. I make the point that we are in the midst of hosting, very successfully if you look at the crowds and you look at the interest in the game, the Women's World Cup, which is one of the biggest international sporting events that is held—full stop. As foreign minister— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, a first supplementary?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, does the Albanese Labor government agree with Premier Andrews's decision to cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games?

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

As I said, this is a decision for the state government. I know that Senator Ruston is inviting me to walk down Scott Morrison's path, which is always have a go at a state government, have a fight with a state government. Obviously, the blame games that we saw were so much a part of the cabinet of which Senator Ruston was a part. But I would acknowledge that this is disappointing news. We have acknowledged that. It's disappointing for athletes, it's disappointing for coaches and it's disappointing for sports fans in Australia. I would make the point also that sport is bigger than any one event, and athletes should have the opportunity to compete at home and abroad. What I also would say is, despite that disappointment, the reasons for the decision have been articulated by the Andrews government. If the senator has issues with that, obviously she is free to contest those in a public arena.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, a second supplementary?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, given your admission about the disappointment that's obviously being expressed by most Australians for our athletes, what do you say to the young Australian athletes who had their hearts set on competing in 2026 and were hoping that that experience was going to be the runway for the 2032 Olympic Games?

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

What I would say to them is that I do think it's a little disappointing that the federal opposition want to play politics with this state decision. But I suppose you have very little to say about anything else. I would say to athletes that I understand their disappointment. People have trained for many years, and they would like to compete on their home turf. Of course, we can understand the disappointment. What I would say is that the decision was made by the Victorian government. It's a matter for the Victorian government to explain the reasons.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) | Link to this | Hansard source

Trash Australia's international reputation and—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

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

Senator Ruston, I don't think any of those words came out of my mouth, but that's fine if you wish to put that. I'm simply making the point that this is a decision that Premier Andrews has explained. We understand that it's disappointing for athletes. (Time expired)