David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. The Nightly reported yesterday that the Albanese government sent an email to defence companies telling them to stop directly exporting military goods to Israel. Why, with the past two years of genocide, after tens of thousands of deaths and after the destruction of Gaza, did it take the Albanese government two years to send this email?

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

I would first say, as I have repeatedly said, Australia hasn't supplied weapons to Israel since the conflict began and for at least the past five years. In relation to any conditions, I believe that Defence officials at the last estimates outlined the government's approach to defence exports at length. I would refer the senator to that testimony, which he would be familiar with because I think he was present for that hearing.

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

Senator Shoebridge, first supplementary?

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Noting my question was about the email that has only recently been sent, since estimates, will the government send a similar email to companies involved in the F-35 supply chain, who are sending weapons parts to Israel from Australia, or will the US stop Australia from adopting this as part of a genuinely independent foreign policy, or is there a rule against asking this question?

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

I think the senator would know that nobody has told him there's a rule against him asking questions, because he regularly asks them. In relation to the F-35, as the defence minister has said, we are one of 20 like-minded countries who operate the aircraft. We are a longstanding participant in the program, and the arrangements in relation to this program were gone through in detail on many occasions, both in here and in estimates.

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

Senator Shoebridge, second supplementary?

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Will the Albanese Labor government continue to allow companies to wash their weapons and weapons parts from Australia through the US to Israel under AUKUS Pillar II, or do you accept that your government has a role under international law in monitoring the end user of weapons and weapons parts even if they're being washed through the US as the middle person?

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

I don't accept the premise of the question, and I'd refer you to my previous answers and many statements we have made in support of international law.