Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
2:00 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The bipartisan motion passed in this place in October of last year following the Hamas terrorist attack of 7 October, which killed more Jews on a single day than at any time since the Holocaust, said unequivocally that this parliament 'stands with Israel and recognises its inherent right to defend itself'. Does the Prime Minister still stand by the entirety of that bipartisan resolution?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I thank Senator Cash for the question. She would know that that motion was put by the Prime Minister and I in both chambers on a bipartisan basis. And it does recognise the continued right of the State of Israel to exist. From memory, we also spoke in that statement about civilians. You will recall, Senator, that from the very first moment I called for restraint, and, as I recall, a number of those opposite were very angry about that and said it was outrageous.
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Do you still stand by—
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
As we saw before as well as now, Senator Cash is obviously auditioning for Senator Birmingham's job. We all understand that. We moved the motion. I would also say that we stand for international humanitarian law and international law.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
We also stand for the application of international law and for international courts and tribunals, unlike those opposite. So of course we continue to support the right of the State of Israel to exist. We also say, as I have said—
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Do you stand by—
Sue Lines President
Senator Cash! I've called you about three times. Come to order.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
As I also said—I think on an Insiders interview last year—we are democracies. We hold ourselves to higher standards. We do not expect, and neither do we believe, that Hamas will ever be anything other than a terrorist group, dedicated to the destruction of the State of Israel. But, as democracies, we also stand for the observance of international humanitarian law, which is contained— (Time expired)
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
2:02 pm
From Lebanon, Hezbollah continues to escalate cross-border attacks against Israel and continues to refuse to withdraw north of the Litani River as required under UN Security Council resolution 1701. Does the Albanese Labor government stand with Israel's right to defend itself against Hezbollah, a listed terrorist organisation under Australian law, whose motto is 'Death to Israel'?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
2:03 pm
Unlike Senator Cash, who seeks to come in here and try to run a domestic political argument, we have been working for months with—
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
The answer should be very simple—
Sue Lines President
Senator Cash, you've asked the question. Please listen in respectful silence. Minister Wong, please continue.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I'll start again. Unlike Senator Cash, who wishes to play domestic politics in the Senate chamber with foreign policy—
The:
Senator Cash, I did call you to order. Please come to order.
Sue Lines President
Order! Senator Cash! You are being incredibly disorderly.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
We have been working with others to add our voice to trying to ensure that this conflict does not escalate. So it's not about beating your chest in the chamber. It's about trying to make sure that we do all we can, with others, to prevent this conflict from escalating. Senator Cash, I don't know if you are aware of what a conflict on the northern border would mean, both for Israel and for—
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
I lived there, so, yes, I am.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
the citizens and civilians of the region, and all parties— (Time expired)
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
2:04 pm
Given the Prime Minister's weakness on the Middle East is fracturing the Labor Party, will the Prime Minister guarantee his Labor government will not recognise a Palestinian state while Hamas and Hezbollah continue to pose a security threat to Israel?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Before I call Senator Wong, I am going to ask for silence across the chamber. Minister Wong.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
2:05 pm
I think the Prime Minister has demonstrated his leadership these last weeks, unlike Mr Dutton, who I see has failed to do so. The second point I would make is that we have, against your opposition, shifted Australia's position when it comes to the recognition of Palestine. We have said—unlike those opposite, who say you have to wait for the end of a process when we know that that has meant no progress on peace—alongside the United Kingdom and others, that we are willing to look to recognition as part of a peace process that leads to a just and enduring peace in a two-state solution. That is a principled position that the Australian Labor Party has taken. I regret that it is met by an unprincipled position by those opposite.