James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Cyber Security) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Reports in the Australian last week revealed extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir had issued a press release, which has since been deleted, which praised Hamas's 7 October attacks and urged neighbouring Muslim countries to attack and eliminate Israel. This comes after the UK government proscribed Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organisation in January. What steps has the Australian government taken to investigate the listing of Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organisation here?

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

I think—I hope—all of us would stand as one in condemning the hateful comments by the members of Hizb ut-Tahrir. There is no place in Australia for such disgraceful statements or the glorification of terrorism. In relation to the listing, the senator, having been a member—perhaps he still is a member; I'm sorry, I can't recall—of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, would understand the process by which advice is provided to government and to parliament through the statutory committee about whether to list organisations. I certainly wouldn't propose to speculate publicly about that process, nor would he expect it.

But it does take me to a broader point about social cohesion. We all know that the conflict in Gaza, whether from October 7—as Senator Cash said, the largest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust—or from the tens of thousands, including tens of thousands of civilians, who have died since, has been horrific. It is deeply distressing for so many in the Australian community, and it is incumbent upon us all to try to ensure that conflict is not imported here, in word and deed and in how we speak about one another. So, all of us should join in condemning the words that Senator Paterson outlined, just as we should also ensure that we continue to advocate and press for peace in a region which has known so much loss of life and so much conflict.

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

Senator Paterson, first supplementary?

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Cyber Security) | Link to this | Hansard source

Reports by 60 Minutes last month showed how Hizb ut-Tahrir had sought to recruit and radicalise students on our campuses, infiltrating pro-Palestinian protests to push antisemitic narratives and fan division. Will the government commit to taking other urgent action to address the crisis of antisemitism in Australia, which is undermining our social cohesion, and support our Jewish communities at their time of greatest need?

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

Firstly, in relation to the primary question, I remind Senator Paterson that the coalition repeatedly rejected listing Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organisation when they were in government. In 2017, the then Attorney-General, Senator Brandis, rejected listing it based on the strong view of ASIO that it did not fit the definition of a terrorist organisation in the Criminal Code. The Leader of the Opposition has also affirmed that the government relies on the advice of our intelligence and security agencies, which is precisely what is being done in this matter.

I will take the interjection from Senator Ruston. If Senator Ruston thinks that she knows better than our security and intelligence agencies when it comes to these matters, perhaps she should stand up and say that. I, for one, think that we should look to the advice of those who are engaged in working to keep Australians safe about how best to do that rather than making cheap political shots like that one.

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

I remind you, Minister, to make comments to the chair. Senator Paterson, a second supplementary?

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Cyber Security) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Herald Sun reported yesterday that Hizb ut-Tahrir had moved its UK operations to Australia in the wake of their ban in that country. Will the Albanese government stop Australia becoming a safe haven for this extremist organisation by joining our allies, by listing Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organisation?

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

I again refer to my earlier answer, which is—

Again, I'll take Senator Ruston's comment. She seems to think she knows more than our intelligence agencies. I, and others, might have a view about perhaps approaching this with a little more respect for the experts who advise us. But what I would say is that this is not a political issue. This is security issue. This is an intelligence issue. This is not an issue that is about politics, and Senator Paterson knows that. He's been part of these processes.

Opposition senators interjecting—

I have addressed the substance, which is that we condemn the hateful comments. There's no place in Australia for this. We continue to take advice, as those opposite did, from our security and intelligence agencies. (Time expired)