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

by leave—I move:

That a motion relating to the conduct of a senator may be moved immediately and debated for up to 30 minutes (6 minutes per speaker).

I understand the motion has been circulated already to the chamber. I move:

That the question be now put.

Question agreed to.

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

The question now is that the procedural motion, as moved by Senator Wong, be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) expresses its profound disapproval of Senator Faruqi's disrespectful protest and actions contrary to standing orders during the Governor-General's speech to open the 48th Parliament on 22 July 2025, given the senator has many other avenues to express her views;

(b) notes that the actions by Senator Faruqi to use a prop, knowing this to be a breach of the standing orders, drew the Governor-General and the Chief Justice into political debate, which is highly inappropriate and undermines our democratic system;

(c) supports the actions of the President in addressing the matter as soon as the Senate sat following the speech, noting that when the Governor-General is in the chair the President cannot exercise the usual powers or authority to manage the chamber as the President would on a typical sitting day;

(d) calls on:

(i) all senators to respect our democratic institutions, including our Parliament, to engage in debates and commentary respectfully, and to refrain from inflammatory and divisive actions that reflect poorly on the Senate, both inside and outside the chamber, at all times,

(ii) all party leaders to act within their parties to uphold the standards of the Senate, and

(iii) Senator Faruqi to apologise for the unparliamentary conduct, disrespect of proceedings and disregard for the position of the Governor-General as our Head of State and conventions of our parliamentary democracy; and

(e) in light of this conduct, does not regard it as appropriate for Senator Faruqi to represent the Senate as a member of any delegation during the life of this Parliament.

Yesterday, we saw in this chamber an elected senator deliberately engaging in behaviour that she knows to be contrary to the standing orders. During that debate, she made a number of comments also as people left the chamber about the issue that she was referencing. I want to go to the issue that Senator Faruqi asserts this is about before I come back to the issue of procedure.

When it comes to the conflict in Gaza, Australians are understandably distressed by the violence, including the deaths of so many innocent civilians, but they also know that Australia is not responsible for what is happening in the Middle East. But the Greens political party doesn't want to listen to Australians; they want to lecture Australians, and they ignore facts that get in their way. And, again, we see they have not learned from the election. For example, they continue to call for sanctions against Israel, ignoring the fact that we have already imposed sanctions on two Israeli ministers for their role in human rights abuses against Palestinians, in partnership with Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the UK.

In this place yesterday, Senator Faruqi went a step further. She disrespected the rules of the parliament by holding up a sign for the duration of the Governor-General's address on the opening of this term of parliament. Do you know what that address is about? It's all about our country; it's all about Australia. It's about decisions taken by all of Australia during the campaign, but Senator Faruqi wanted it to be about her—presumably, in her campaign for the leadership of the Greens. One thing I think the election showed very clearly was Australians making it clear that they reject attempts by some in this place to reproduce the conflict here. Australians want a country that is democratic, a country that operates by rules and laws, and Australians expect us as their elected representatives to uphold our democratic institutions, to demonstrate a degree of respect for each other, as they do, and a respect for our institutions. You know what they don't expect? They don't expect any of us to place ourselves above the institution that operates in their name, which is the Parliament of Australia.

What we saw this week is what we have seen before from Senator Faruqi. Senator Faruqi demands respect, but she does not offer it. She denigrates anyone who doesn't agree with her on everything regularly, including personally. I don't think this is the leadership Australians expect. I don't believe this is what Australian democracy is about. Senator Faruqi and others take absolutist positions with the same kinds of grievance politics that have been so destructive in other countries. It's 'my way or the highway'—the same lack of basic respect for other Australians. But, of course, what Senator Faruqi actually wants most is attention. That's why you're here. What she wants most of all is attention. Presumably—

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I make a point of order under standing order 193(3), and I ask you please to rule whether those comments—which, I note, are not specific in nature, other than that they are directed specifically at Senator Faruqi, but are general in nature about Senator Faruqi's behaviour—are imputations of improper motives or personal reflections on Senator Faruqi, in which case they are against the standing orders.

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

Thank you, Senator McKim. I'll seek advice.

Senator McKim, it is my view, and it is the view of the clerks, that they don't rise to the level that you have suggested. So I'm going to ask Senator Wong to continue.

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

Yet again, respect is demanded but not offered.

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

Order! Senator Wong, please resume your seat. As this debate is about what occurred in this place yesterday, it will be heard in silence, whether you agree with the comments or not. Senators are entitled to put a respectful position, and it will be listened to in silence by every single senator in this place. Senator Wong, please continue.

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

As I said, I think we all understand that what Senator Faruqi wants most of all is attention, and it may well be that her move is designed to show her Greens base that she's more hardline than the current leader.

What we know is that Senator Faruqi and the Greens ignore the facts. They ignore facts that get in the way of their political agenda. They ignore the sanctions Australia has imposed, just as they ignore the work we are doing to provide humanitarian support. They call for us to provide aid to Gaza, ignoring the fact that we have committed $110 million in aid for civilians in Gaza and Lebanon, and they ignore that we are part of many countries internationally working together to put pressure on Israel for aid to flow unimpeded. Senator Faruqi demands that we airdrop aid into Gaza, ignoring that we did contribute to airdrops in the past. But she also ignores that many aid organisations have since made clear that this isn't an efficient way or a safe way to deliver aid to people in need.

The reality is that this is a very difficult conflict. I have often spoken in this place about the need for all of us to be responsible about how we deal with it here. I also would say to the Senate: we have moved this motion because we do not believe that this institution should be denigrated in the way that it was. All of us have a personal responsibility and a collective responsibility to uphold standards. It's not as if Senator Faruqi doesn't have a voice. (Time expired)

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today on behalf of the opposition to speak to the motion and indicate that, whilst the opposition appreciates the government moving the motion, we do not believe that it goes far enough, given the circumstances that occurred yesterday, and amendments on behalf of the opposition have been circulated in the chamber. I move:

Omit paragraphs (c) to (e), substitute:

(c) notes the actions of the President in addressing the matter as soon as the Senate sat following the speech, recognising that when the Governor-General is in the chair the President cannot exercise the usual powers or authority to manage the chamber as the President would on a typical sitting day;

(d) calls on:

(i) all senators to respect our democratic institutions, including our Parliament, to engage in debates and commentary respectfully, and to refrain from inflammatory and divisive actions that reflect poorly on the Senate, both inside and outside the chamber, and to uphold the standards of the Senate at all times, and

(ii) Senator Faruqi to apologise for the unparliamentary conduct, disrespect of proceedings and disregard for the position of the Governor-General as our Head of State and conventions of our parliamentary democracy;

(e) in the event Senator Faruqi fails to apologise for the unparliamentary conduct, calls on the President to report to the Senate that Senator Faruqi has committed an offence in accordance with standing order 203 so that a motion may be moved that Senator Faruqi be suspended from the sitting of the Senate; and

(f) in light of this conduct, does not regard it as appropriate for Senator Faruqi to represent the Senate as a member of any delegation during the life of this parliament.

As I said, we appreciate that the government expresses its profound disapproval of Senator Faruqi's disrespectful protest and the actions. However, we believe that the ultimate punishment fails to meet the gravity of what occurred during yesterday's joint sitting of parliament. It falls short of what Australians rightly expect of their elected representatives. What we witnessed yesterday was not simply a breach of standing orders; it was a breach of respect for the institution of the Senate. It was a breach of our rules, for our history, but, most importantly, the people that we serve.

All senators here now know what occurred. During the entirety of the Governor-General's 35-minute address, a speech that formally opens the parliament and reflects the sovereign authority of His Majesty the King, Senator Faruqi chose to hold up a political protest sign. Let us be clear. The act was not incidental, it was not momentary and it certainly was not spontaneous. It was deliberate, prolonged and clearly intended to politicise a solemn and ceremonial event. It was conducted in full view of the Governor-General, of members of both houses of the Australian parliament, and of the public, both those in the galleries and those watching from home.

President, the opening of parliament is not just a formality; it is a foundational moment. It represents the continuity of our democratic traditions, the legitimacy of our institutions and the unity of our nation. It is not a time for political stunts. It is a time for dignity, for restraint and for honouring the trust placed in us, as senators, by the Australian people.

Senator Faruqi's behaviour, by any measure, was in breach of the standing orders, and we must all ask ourselves when considering this motion: What message does Senator Faruqi's behaviour and her conduct send? What message does it send to the Australians watching at home, many of whom look to this place still, today, with hope and expectation? What message does it send to young Australians learning about our democracy? And, importantly, what message does it send to our international partners and diplomatic allies who rightly expect that our parliament conducts itself with seriousness and with respect?

This was not a protest in the street. This was not a media appearance. This was the formal opening of the 48th Parliament of Australia. There are many opportunities—and we are afforded the great privilege—to raise political concerns: in speeches, in debates, in committee hearings, in question time, in press conferences and, yes, even at peaceful protests outside of this building. But this chamber must remain a place where rules matter—where order, not opportunism, prevails.

Let me be crystal clear. The issue here is not whether a senator or senators hold dissenting views. Of course they can; that is their right and, I would even say—based on their party—their duty. But with that right comes a responsibility—the responsibility to act in accordance with the rules of this place and to exercise judgement about how and when that dissent is to be expressed.

Senator Faruqi, like any one of us, has ample opportunity to raise her concerns within this chamber, outside of this chamber, through the media, through statements, or even, should she choose, through peaceful protest. What she chose instead was to use one of the most important moments on the parliamentary calendar to stage a protest that was entirely inappropriate in both setting and manner.

The opposition firmly believes—and it's reflected in our amendment—that Senator Faruqi's actions deserve formal recognition under standing order 203. We believe that she should be called upon to explain herself and apologise, and, if she fails to do so, we believe that the Senate should be given the opportunity to suspend her from this place, as the rules allow and, I would argue, as the gravity of what occurred yesterday at the official opening of the 48th Parliament of Australia, quite frankly deserves.

To those who may argue that such a response—given that the motion in particular does not address this—is heavy-handed, let me say this: rules without enforcement are meaningless, standards without accountability are hollow and institutions without discipline become irrelevant. The Senate is not a forum for street theatre. It is not—

An incident having occurred in the gallery—

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

Senator Cash, please be seated. Remove the interjector and turn the broadcasting off.

Broadcasting can recommence. I have asked for there to be no interjections in this chamber or anywhere else. This is a serious debate. It requires a serious response, and it requires respect from every single senator in this place and anyone else in the gallery.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition urges all senators to consider what is at stake—the dignity of the Australian Senate, the confidence of the public and the reputation of our parliament on the world stage. We would ask that the Senate support our amendments and allow us to go forward to suspend Senator Faruqi.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak against this motion and the amendments circulated by the opposition. What a disgrace to seek to discipline a member of this chamber for engaging in a peaceful act of protest by holding up a piece of paper in support of the Palestinian people.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

I asked, whether you agreed with statements or not, for senators to put those statements in silence. If you can't do that, remove yourself from the chamber.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And what a disgrace to say that it was attention seeking by Senator Faruqi for herself rather than the issue of starving women, children and men in Palestine. That says more about Senator Wong than it does about Senator Faruqi.

Over the last three days, ordinary people—parents, grandparents and young people from around the country—have been converging on Parliament House to demand Australia take urgent action to bring pressure to bear on the Netanyahu government and end the genocide in Gaza, and it's because of the pressure of those incredible human rights warriors around the country that the government is slowly, ever so slowly, moving and that the Prime Minister has made some positive movements towards calling out Israel. We do welcome Australia's signing onto that latest international joint statement, but words aren't going to feed people, and they're not enough to stop the genocide of the Netanyahu government. So we must continue to speak the truth, and we will, and we cannot be afraid of it.

Everyone in this place must now admit that, with starvation, this is a crime of genocide. Senator Faruqi was peacefully pointing out the truth. Gaza is starving. The stories that are coming of starvation and hunger are devastating, and yet, almost two years into this conflict and this ongoing genocide, the most that the government can manage is some more stern words and some signatures. Letters are not going to feed the starving children in Gaza, and letters are not going to stop the genocide. The government must immediately intervene. They must coordinate direct aid into Gaza. They must sanction the Netanyahu government. They must end the sale of the bomb door parts into that region. This is the bare minimum that they should be doing.

What they shouldn't be doing is disciplining anyone who dares to speak out, who dares to speak the truth, either in this place or anywhere else. The very idea that we are discussing disciplining Senator Faruqi for holding up a piece of paper, raising attention to the plight of those starving in Gaza, whilst completely ignoring the fact that One Nation senators turn their backs on the welcome to country, only proves how out of touch with ordinary people this place is. So I want to acknowledge everyone who is being honest about the genocide in Gaza, including the staunch and courageous Senator Faruqi, and I want to acknowledge everyone who is calling on this government to do more. I want to salute the hearts of all those people who've been at the front of the building these last few days, demanding action from our government. I want to recognise the academics, students, journalists and artists who have refused to remain silent despite the great personal cost that it has taken. The Greens will not be silent.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Scarr for ceding to allow me to make a few remarks and follow up on a couple of things that the Leader of the Australian Greens says. In particular, as to her concern that this is about us trying to control or not allow to speak someone who wants or dares to speak, that is absolutely not what this is about. Senator Faruqi has so many opportunities to speak and to raise issues, as every other senator does, but everyone else, to the largest part possible, does it in accordance with the standing orders and the rules of this place. If we are to pretend that they don't matter and don't exist anymore, nobody would ever have an opportunity or have a right to say anything in this place. Those are the rules that we all sign up to when we come into this place. Obviously Senator Faruqi feels that she is exempt from those rules, but the rules allow all of us as senators to participate in this chamber. That is why they are important.

On the first day of the 48th Parliament, at the opening of parliament, we had Her Excellency the Governor-General in the chair and the Chief Justice and others in this chamber to recognise that most important day in our democratic system, to represent the will of the Australian people through our formal processes. To have that used as an opportunity to be disorderly I think disappointed everybody because of the importance of that day. Senator Faruqi has made and will no doubt continue to make her points, as she is able to do as a senator in this place, but what happened yesterday was disorderly, and there has to be a consequence for that or there is no point to our standing orders at all.

Senator Waters also incorrectly—if she had listened to Senator Wong's contribution—tries to minimise the position that the Australian government has taken on and our concern for the conflict in the Middle East. She failed to recognise, when she called for aid, that we have provided over $110 million for aid in recognition of our responsibilities. That's disingenuous. To present this as some mechanism where the Greens are the only people that can raise issues, and to raise them in the way that they choose to, and to fail to recognise the ongoing commitment of the Australian government and the leadership that has being shown through international forum as appropriate to raise concerns about the conflict in the Middle East, is unfair and not being recognised by Senator Waters. Senator Waters is the Leader of the Australian Greens. She is a new leader of the Greens, but there are times when you need to lead, and you need to lead your senators. I would say that response from Senator Waters indicates that she is not prepared to do that.

On the issue of One Nation senators who have chosen, it appears, to turn their backs on the opening of the day, the acknowledgement of country, we are concerned about that and we have raised that. We want the opportunity to speak with First Nations caucus members before we take further steps on that. But we are concerned about that.

Senator Faruqi has, as I said, lots of opportunities to make the points that she wants to make, but to do so as she chose to do yesterday was deliberate, and it was about seeking attention. There is no other reason why she would choose to do it in the way that she did and in a way that reflects so poorly on the Senate and the opening of the parliament. To choose to do it when the Governor-General, Her Excellency, who is a non-partisan figure in our political system, was in charge and chairing the chamber was incredibly disrespectful to the role that she plays, the Chief Justice and others in our democratic system.

I think the motion that Senator Wong has moved does reflect on the seriousness of Senator Faruqi's actions yesterday and the disrespect she showed you, President, in the fact that you were not in the chair and not able to chair the chamber as you would normally would. I think this should also be noted. On the question of the amendments by Senator Cash, the government will not be supporting those amendments. We would hope that Senator Faruqi does apologise for her unparliamentary conduct, and we do believe that the sanction as set out in subsection (e) is a commensurate and suitable response to the embarrassment of yesterday's behaviour.

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I genuinely felt for you yesterday as you were sitting next to our Governor-General for the length of her address and you were in such an invidious position as to what you could do in that situation. I genuinely felt for you, and, in speaking on this matter, I'd like to make that point, and I think that point should be made.

The second point I'd like to make is that, to some extent, it should be irrelevant as to what the issue is. The standing orders are the standing orders, and the standing orders should be blind as to what the issue is. If anything, the more vexed, the more difficult, the more problematic the issue—and we've seen the emotion that this issue can generate—the more we should cling to the standing orders as providing structure. I'm going to give you some flattery here, Senator Wong. Senator Wong has often used an evocative term that has stayed with me—there should be guardrails in relation to the debate we conduct in this place. There must be guardrails around that debate. One of those guardrails is the standing orders. It should not matter what the issue is.

The other point I'd like to make through you, President, is that Senator Waters managed to give quite a passionate contribution to this debate, but she managed to do that without breaching the standing orders—without using props, and showing respect and due regard with respect to the sensitivity of the debate and the issues. She managed to do that entirely within the standing orders, and I recognise that. In relation to the responsibility of leaders, I would just like to make this point: I don't think it just falls upon Senator Wong, Senator Cash, Senator Gallagher, Senator Waters and Senator McKenzie to be the ones who must keep us in line as senators. I think it's an obligation each and every one of us has. It's an obligation of each and every one of us. When we discuss matters such as this, we shouldn't just be looking at our leaders. We should be looking at our own obligations to this institution as stewards and custodians of this institution, and I think that's an extremely important point to make.

Lastly, in relation to Senator Gallagher's contribution about whether or not the motion as it was originally presented deals adequately with this matter, if you're not going to trigger standing order 203 in relation to such an egregious breach on the first day of convening the parliament, when we had the Governor-General, the Chief Justice and our colleagues from the other place, when are you going to use standing order 203? If you don't use standing order 203 in these circumstances, aren't you just inviting a repeat, another breach, at the next opportunity? When would you actually invoke standing order 203? I really do commend the amendments proposed to the Senate by Senator Cash, and I think we all need to double-down in terms of our responsibility to comply with the standing orders and conventions of this place, even more so when we're dealing with extremely emotional and passionate issues.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Gaza is starving. Words won't feed them. Sanction Israel. That is the truth on the sign that I held up in the Senate yesterday, and I will not back down from this goal, because Palestinians are being murdered, starved and displaced by Israel as we speak and all you can do is crack down on people who protest, who tell the truth, who hold up a mirror to you all for your silence and complicity. Labor and the coalition in this chamber want to avoid the truth. You don't want to see it or hear it, and now here we are. You want to force me to apologise for telling the truth. Well, well done. You can all pat yourselves on the back and move on while Palestinians are slaughtered.

MPs here and outside of here are accusing me of being disrespectful and denigrating the parliament. You should all reflect, for a minute even, on your silence and your complicity in and even enabling of a genocide. That is what degrades this place and that is what reflects poorly on this place—not a sign trying to wake you up from your moral stupor. But do you know what? You are more focused on cracking down on black and brown women in this parliament. You've done this before.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Faruqi.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You have done this before. You are more focused—

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

Order! Senator Faruqi, I've asked you to sit down. You may not have heard me because there was too much noise. Senator Faruqi, I'm going to remind you that you should be relevant to the motion, and I have asked other senators in this place, if they can't listen in respectful silence, to remove themselves. Senator Faruqi, nobody has questioned your right to hold an opinion. You need to be reflecting on the motion.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I raise a point of order. I seek that Senator Faruqi withdraw the allegation that senators are being racist in this chamber. That is the obvious imputation from what she just said about all of us.

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

I will inform the chamber that, because there was so much noise in here, I didn't hear that comment, but Minister Gallagher has asked that Senator Faruqi withdraw that comment. Senator Faruqi, I am going to ask you to withdraw that comment.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, this is exactly what I said: you crack down in this chamber on black and brown women—

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

Senator Faruqi, sit down please. I have always been very, very clear as the President that offences or alleged offences are not to be repeated. I have asked you to withdraw. That means you stand up and you withdraw the comment. Please do as I have asked you to, Senator Faruqi.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Could I ask you, President, to review that comment. I withdraw it for now because I want to get on and talk about the substantive motion.

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

Thank you, Senator Faruqi. I will review it and thank you for withdrawing.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to draw attention to the words of Martin Luther King Jr in his letter from a Birmingham jail. It seems especially relevant while you all sit here and censure me for breaking what you call the decorum of parliament, for my failure to be polite or respectful while a genocide unfolds, while kids are being killed. He wrote of his frustration with the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice, who seeks only the absence of tension rather than the presence of justice, who says, 'I agree with the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your ways of achieving it' and who has a paternalistic belief they can set the timetable and decorum of another people's freedom. Well, you can set your standards because you don't want to see the truth. You don't want to do anything about the genocide.

One day you will all have to explain to your children and grandchildren where you stood when tens of thousands of men, women and children were being slaughtered. I wouldn't like to be in your shoes then, because you are all on the wrong side of history. Instead of sanctioning me, maybe you should think about sanctioning Israel. They are the ones starving, slaughtering and displacing Palestinians; blowing up hospitals; obliterating schools; and wiping out entire bloodlines. But you ignore all of that, you ignore your constituents and you ignore your communities. You can't even read the room. You can't engage with people in your own communities who have, for 21 months—and, for some, much longer than that—been crying out for you to do something, to take real action to stop this genocide, to stop the starvation, to sanction Israel. But I'm not really holding out hope, honestly.

I can tell you this: the Greens will not be silent as this genocide unfolds. You will not be able to intimidate me or any of my colleagues. We will never stop fighting for freedom for Palestine and all those oppressed people. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. (Time expired)

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

The question is that the amendment as moved by Senator Cash to Senator Wong's motion be agreed to.

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

The question now is that the motion as moved by Senator Wong be agreed to.