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

My question is to Minister Wong. Minister, late last year, you told the Australian Institute of International Affairs:

Australia will always make our contribution, as part of multilateral efforts to protect civilians and uphold international law—because living in peace shouldn't be contingent on where you were born.

Yet you are now rolling out the red carpet for Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel—a state committing a genocide that has killed at least 70,000 Palestinians, including thousands of children, journalists, aid workers and health workers—a man the UN commission of inquiry said incited genocide. Why are you inviting war criminals to this country, and will you rescind your divisive invitation to President Herzog—something members of your own party have called for?

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

Put simply, President Herzog is coming to Australia to honour the victims of the antisemitic terror attack at Bondi and to provide support to the Australian Jewish community. It's a visit that comes at a moment of great trauma for many in the Australian Jewish community.

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

Senator Faruqi, first supplementary?

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

Minister, you have refused to join the UK, Canada and France in condemning the Israeli government's demolition of UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem. You have remained silent as Israel bans Doctors Without Borders from Gaza. Under your watch, we have become a country that has made a mockery of international law. Can you explain how anyone can take your government seriously on human rights ever again?

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

The Greens political party have, for more than two years, spread misinformation about Australia's position and actions. The Australian government did in fact issue a statement objecting to Israel's actions. We did so at the UN Security Council meeting on 20 January. I note that the Greens political party have ignored this, just as they have ignored all statements that we have made with partners calling for unimpeded humanitarian aid. The Greens political party seek to provoke anger by saying that statements are 'words'. Then they try to provoke anger by saying that there aren't enough statements. I think everyone understands the approach that is being taken.

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

Senator Faruqi, second supplementary.

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

Minister, tens of thousands—likely hundreds of thousands—of Palestinians have been killed, over 500 since that farce of a ceasefire. These actions are by a country that you continue to call a friend and to trade weapons with and whose president you invite here. Minister, have you stopped pretending to care at all? Will you next be rolling out the welcome mat for Putin?

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

I'm not sure that is actually worthy of an answer.