Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong. Minister, over the weekend we saw Israel and the United States take military action against the Islamic Republic of Iran following a breakdown in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. We know that Iran's nuclear program has long been recognised as a threat to global peace and security. What has the Australian government's response been to these events?

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

Thank you to Senator Ciccone for his question, and I thank him for his advocacy on behalf of the Australian Iranian community, particularly in his state of Victoria.

Australia stands with the brave people of Iran, and we, along with the international community, have long called for the regime to uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of its citizens. Instead, the regime initiated a brutal crackdown, killing thousands of its own citizens. Australians will also recall Iran directed at least two appalling attacks targeting Australia's Jewish community on our soil in 2024. In response, Australia took the unprecedented step of expelling Iran's ambassador and suspending operations at our embassy in Tehran and listing the IRGC as a state sponsor of terrorism. This government, the Albanese government, has taken stronger action on Iran than any previous Australian government has, with sanctions on more than 200 Iranian linked individuals, including more than 100 linked to the IRGC.

Australia and the international community have been clear that the Iranian regime cannot ever be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. Australia supports the actions taken by the US and Israel to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security. Now we do not want to see further escalation. We join the United States, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in condemning Iran's indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks. Like others, we call on Iran to cease these attacks.

We also continue to urge all parties to uphold international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and ultimately to resume dialogue and diplomacy. We are clear the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.

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

Senator Ciccone, first supplementary?

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, thank you for your comments. I know the Iranian community back home really appreciate the work that you and the government have done to date. In response to the military strikes conducted by the US and Israel, the Islamic Iranian regime has launched reprisal attacks across the region, including in the United Arab Emirates, as we have seen on our TV screens. Airspace has been closed around the Middle East, and many Australians are stuck at regional hubs. What is the Australian government doing to support those Australians in the region?

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

Thank you for the question, Senator Ciccone, and I want to start by emphasising how distressing and challenging a time this is for Australians in the region and for their friends and families. I have been upfront that this is a difficult situation and there will be difficult days ahead.

The Albanese government will continue to do all we can to support Australians, providing up-to-date information while airspace remains closed, recognising there are limits on what we can do in this security environment. We have activated the crisis centre, and officials are working literally around the clock to support Australians. Today, I asked the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure that our registration process is open to people in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar impacted by travel disruptions. Yesterday, we opened the registration portal for Australians in Iran or Israel. Australians requiring urgent consular assistance can contact the consular emergency centre.

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

Senator Ciccone, second supplementary?

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As you just outlined, Minister, this is clearly a challenging time for many Australians impacted, with many difficult days ahead. How many Australians are currently in the region, and what advice does the Albanese government have for those Australians impacted?

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

There are many affected by this conflict. Our rough estimate—and these are rough estimates only—is there are approximately 115,000 Australians across the broader Middle East region. When flights are operating, around 11,000 people take Emirates, Qatar or Etihad in and out of Australia every day. That gives you some sense of the scale of the disruption, given the attack on these travel hubs, so this will be a very challenging time for Australians and their families, particularly those who are in the region or those with travel plans.

Our priority is the safety and security of Australians. We urge people to register on DFAT's registration portal for Australians, permanent residents and immediate family members in Israel, Iran, the UAE and Qatar. I'll continue to engage with regional counterparts and those requiring urgent consular assistance can phone +61262613305 from outside Australia.

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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Over the weekend the murderous dictator of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed as a result of military strikes from Australia's Israeli and American allies. This is a significant victory for the Iranian people, who have spent decades living under his repression. Disappointingly, a number of mosques in Australia have held services to mourn the ayatollah's death, with the El Zahra mosque in Melbourne describing the murderous dictator as 'the pious scholar, the foremost martyr of the Islamic Revolution and the rightful deputy of the imam of the age'. Does the Prime Minister believe that holding services to commemorate the so-called martyrdom of the murderous ayatollah is good for social cohesion in Australia?

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

As I have said, and as the Prime Minister has said, we do not mourn the passing of Ayatollah Khamenei. He led a regime which is responsible not only for the sponsoring of terrorism and the backing of proxies which have engaged in horrific attacks in the region, but for a regime that also organised attacks on Australian soil against Jewish Australians. We do not mourn his passing. That is the position of the government.

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

Senator Cash, first supplementary?

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

In relation to the comments from the El Zahra mosque that 'the pious scholar, the foremost martyr of the Islamic Revolution and the rightful deputy of the imam of the age' has been killed, will the Prime Minister raise concerns with the religious groups who have held the services to commemorate the death of the murderous ayatollah?

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

In this place, this government always seeks to strengthen not diminish social cohesion. I wish the same could be said of other members of parliament and senators.

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

Senator Cash, second supplementary?

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

New South Wales Labor premier Chris Minns has, today, shown leadership and said about the services mourning the ayatollah: 'I think it's atrocious. I mean by many objective measure, the ayatollah was evil, and I don't think we should be mincing words about this.' Will the Prime Minister show the same leadership as New South Wales premier Chris Minns and unequivocally condemn the services mourning the ayatollah as a martyr?

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

I've already said we do not mourn the ayatollah. That is the position of the government.

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

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister Wong. As many of us feared, we've already seen the Iranian people further suffer under the illegal strikes by the US and Israel. Will the government clearly condemn the Israeli bombing of a primary school in Iran that has killed over 100 children?

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

We mourn the loss of civilian life wherever it may be. You heard in my opening question our view about this conflict and our view that we continue to call for international humanitarian law, which goes to the protection of civilians to be observed. I know that the Greens political party get very—there's a lot of selective outrage. You're outraged when we do say something or when we don't say something, or you say it's not worth the words and the words aren't worth it, then you get outraged that we haven't said certain words, but our position is a principled position, and our position is a consistent position. We do always back the observance of international humanitarian law, which I think goes to your question.

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

I am going to remind senators, before I call Senator Waters again, that we have had 15 minutes of question time. There have been very difficult questions asked and answered, and they have been heard in silence, and you will continue to listen in silence. If you can't do that, I'm asking you to leave the chamber. This is time for respect and silence. Senator Waters, first supplementary?

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

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, condemned the US and Israeli bombing of Iran, stating that it was against international law and will undermine international peace and security. Will your government acknowledge that the bombings were illegal, or will you continue to support Trump and Netanyahu in their illegal war of aggression?

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

I understand not everyone agrees with the government's position. That is people's right. But I think it is—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order!

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

I would remind the Greens political party, who assert that they care about human rights, that it might be good to recognise the oppression of the Iranian people for 40 years. I know that you have a narrative about this, but this did not start with these strikes.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about international law?

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

I'm waiting, Senator Whish-Wilson. I've just called the Senate to order and you've completely ignored me. Senator Waters?

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

On a point of order, the question is: will you condemn this war as illegal or continue to support it?

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

Thank you, Senator Waters. The minister is being relevant to your question.

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

Senator Waters and Senator Cash are playing by the same playbook but from different ends of the political spectrum. Both of them want a simple, black-and-white—

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

Are you Switzerland?

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

No, we are adults. You want a black-and-white proposition so that you can—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order across the chamber! I have witnessed some very poor behaviour in the Senate today. It is not going to be allowed at question time. As I said earlier, if you can't sit and listen in silence, regardless of your view, please leave the Senate or take an opportunity at some other time to make a contribution, not during question time. Minister Wong, I think you have concluded. Senator Waters, you have one supplementary question left.

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

The government has refused to say if Australian bases or resources were used in the Israeli-US attacks on hospitals and schools. Will the government, at the very least, rule out any such usage—Australia's tacit participation—in Trump and Netanyahu's illegal war going forwards?

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

I refer you to what I and the Prime Minister have said, and that is that we did not participate in these strikes. I've made public comments about not having any intention to participate in such strikes, which does obviously put us in a different position to some of the countries engaged at the moment. I would also remind you that, at the moment, we have countries who were not part of the conflict—I know you want to focus on two countries, but there are countries in the region who are not part of the conflict who are being attacked by Iran. I think the whole chamber—

Honourable Senator:

An honourable senator interjecting

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

It's okay, is it, because it's a base? What an extraordinary admission from the Greens. These are bases where—

An honourable senator interjecting

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

Order!

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

Wow. That just says everything you want to know about the Australian Greens.