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

I seek leave to move a motion relating to the recent military strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran and the death of its brutal dictator, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as circulated.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice of motion standing in my name, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to give precedence to a motion relating to strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran and the death of its brutal dictator, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In moving the suspension of standing orders, events are currently unfolding, as we can all see on our television screens, in real time. The security situation is volatile. Australians, as we know, in the region are watching developments by the hour. There is a further possibility of an escalation by the IRGC. In moments like this, when history is literally being made before our eyes, the Senate cannot be a procedural spectator. This chamber must be able to respond immediately to put Australia's position clearly on the record, but, more than that, to send a clear signal to our allies and adversaries and give certainty to Australians both here at home, including, obviously, those who fled the Islamic regime, and abroad.

Standing orders, as we know, are here to keep the Senate orderly. They are not meant to stop the Senate speaking when the national interest—and this is about now, today—demands clarity and speed. In the first instance, we need to be able to acknowledge the moral clarity shown by the United States and the State of Israel in confronting the threat posed, not just in Iran but globally, by the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear ambitions. As we know, Iran's regime has divided the international community while advancing its nuclear and ballistic programs and while exporting violence through proxies. The United States and Israel have acted in the face of that reality.

The reason we must suspend standing orders is simple: this is urgent. As I have said, Australians and, in fact, the world, are watching these events, some of the most historic in our time, unfold in real time on our TVs. As we know, for decades, the Islamic Republic has pursued nuclear capability while expanding its ballistic missile program and entrenching a network of proxy militias in the region. That combination of nuclear ambition and ideological expansionism has long been recognised one of the gravest threats to international peace and security. A nuclear armed Iran would not simply alter the balance of power in the Middle East, as we know; it would shatter it. It matters to Australia, and that is why this suspension—and I would ask all senators to support the suspension. It's not often you actually watch such a significant event. Australia may not be taking part in it physically, but it actually matters not only to Australians here on the ground but also to Australians overseas and those who fled the regime and now call Australia home.

The motion, when you look at it, rightly condemns the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC. They are the hardline security apparatus that have dominated Iran's political system and brutalised and slaughtered their own citizens for decades. The motion also, when you look at it, condemns them for what they have done to women—the violent repression of women demanding basic freedoms. As we also know, it is the IRGC that has been linked to extremist and antisemitic activity affecting Jewish Australians here on Australian soil. If we are not suspending standing orders at this point in time today for a matter this urgent so that the Australian Senate can clearly and articulately put its opinion on the record and send a clear signal, both here in Australia and more broadly, to those abroad and, in particular, to our allies who have shown the decisiveness and the moral clarity in relation to what has now occurred, I quite frankly do not know what urgency therefore is.

In moving the suspension of standing orders, this is not a debate that can just be parked until later in the program. As I have stated, this is precisely the kind of moment when standing orders should give way to what is clearly in the public interest. Australia's position should not be ambiguous. We need to be able to stand here today and reject, unequivocally, any future Iranian acquisition of nuclear weapons capability. We need to stand here today and condemn the IRGC's sponsorship of terrorism and destabilisation. We need to condemn their attacks on civilian infrastructure, and we need to ensure that our Jewish friends know we stand firmly against antisemitism and foreign interference on Australian soil. That is why I commend this suspension to the Senate.

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

Let us be very clear, this suspension is not about national interest; it's about political interest. You know how you most know that? Because we have this unholy alliance between Senator Michaelia Cash and Senator David Shoebridge—what an unusual combination!—combining to agree to deliver the numbers to suspend the Senate. Senator Cash and Senator Shoebridge together—what an extraordinary demonstration of the fact that they will do anything in order to engage in a political stunt while there is a war going on. What we know—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order, senators! Senator Cash was just heard in complete silence.

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

Labor's war!

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

Senator Shoebridge! Such disrespect—

You are not debating me, Senator Shoebridge.

Senator Shoebridge, I am demanding order in this Senate and I am demanding silence. The respect shown to Senator Cash—whether or not you agree with the proposition that was put—will also be shown to Senator Wong.

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

Labor has started a war.

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

Senator Faruqi, Order!

Senator Wong!

Senator Paterson! I'm not going to sit here and call every single senator. You are being disrespectful towards me. I've called for silence. I've called for the same respect that was shown to Senator Cash to be shown to Senator Wong. Senator Wong.

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

Thank you. Not content with wanting to work with One Nation, the Liberals now want to work with the Greens to get on board. It is really a demonstration that what used to be a party of government is interested only in political stunts in this chamber, and Senator Michaelia Cash is prepared to do deals with Senator David Shoebridge to get the numbers to provide the space for a political stunt. Now, what I would say is that we are seeing the coalition, the Liberals and Senator Shoebridge and the Greens playing politics on a motion on a conflict where Iran continues to attack the region, people are dying, Australians are stranded and the government is working to respond. That is what is happening here.

Senator Cash, if you had wanted an orderly debate on this, rather than throwing a motion at us five minutes before this debate, I would have been open to a sensible debate in the national interest. But, no, instead you work with the Australian Greens for this stunt in order to take up time on Closing the Gap. Can I just make a comment about Closing the Gap—and I'll have more to say about this in the debate after you vote with each other to delay Closing the Gap? I understand the Liberals don't want to debate Closing the Gap. I understand that the coalition and One Nation don't want to debate it, other than to say things which are hurtful to First Nations people, but you are a party that should know better.

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

Senator McKenzie!

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

You are a party that should understand that this is an important debate, and I'm not surprised you're on your feet.

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

When you have quite finished, Senator Allman-Payne! If you can't listen in silence, leave the chamber. Your interjections have been incredibly disrespectful.

Order! I am waiting for order. Minister Wong.

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

I'm unsurprised that the coalition may try and have a political stunt delay Closing the Gap. It doesn't matter that there was an alleged terrorist attack targeting First Nations Australians. It doesn't matter that First Nations are grappling with disbelief and fear. What does matter is that this is a time when the Senate is supposed to show respect and commitment by taking allocated time to debate progress for First Nations people in this country.

What is extraordinary is that the Greens political party is supporting the Liberals and the Nationals to deprioritise the Closing the Gap debate for a stunt on Iran. From a party that has no stake in Indigenous representation at any level of any state or federal government, I am unsurprised, but we stand with Senator McCarthy and the First Nations caucus. We want a debate that is scheduled for Closing the Gap, and we invite you to do the right thing. On that basis I move:

That the motion be now put.

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

It is outrageous, Senator McKenzie. The behaviour in here is outrageous.

Senator Shoebridge, I will name you if you do not come to order.

Senator Bragg, I will name you if you don't come to order. Senator Wong has asked for the motion to be put. The question is that the motion be put.

Question agreed to.

The question is that the motion to suspend standing order be agreed to.

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

I move:

That a motion relating to the recent military strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran and the death of its brutal dictator, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, may be moved immediately and have precedence over all other business.

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

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