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

I move:

That the Senate:

(a) congratulates the United States of America and the State of Israel for their sustained efforts to prevent the Islamic Republic of Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, acknowledging the long-standing threat posed by Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs to regional and global peace and security;

(b) welcomes the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a brutal dictator who has oppressed the Iranian people for decades, as a result of the American and Israeli attacks;

(c) reaffirms Australia's rejection of any future Iranian acquisition of nuclear weapons capability, recognising such an outcome would severely destabilise the Middle East and pose unacceptable risks to international peace and security;

(d) condemns in the strongest terms the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for its sponsorship of terrorism globally, including its role in orchestrating antisemitic attacks targeting Jewish Australians on Australian soil, acts which represent a direct attack on our social cohesion and national security;

(e) condemns the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its use of state-directed violence and its support for proxy militant groups engaged in terrorist activities in multiple regions, undermining peace, stability and the rule of law;

(f) deplores the recent attacks by Iran on civilian infrastructure in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, including the suspension of operations at Dubai's major airports due to regional hostilities, and condemns the IRGC for targeting civilian populations and civilian facilities; and

(g) expresses strong support for the Iranian people in their ongoing struggle against the IRGC.

In speaking to the motion, I have to say, quite frankly, that I think that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has shown that she is not prepared to put Australia's position on the record. All that she could contribute to the debate this morning were cheap political scoring points. I was a little surprised that the government were not going to move a motion today to the effect that the coalition has. As I said, this is one of the most historic moments history will ever record—one of the most historic moments. We come in here this morning, and not only is there silence by the government; more than that, they do everything they can to shut the Senate down from properly debating this motion. The Senate, though, has rightly agreed to suspend standing orders. Now we debate this motion at a moment, as I said in my suspension speech, that will be recorded as a turning point not just in modern Middle Eastern history but globally.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead. For decades, he was the supreme authority of a regime that imprisoned dissenters, crushed protests, slaughtered Iranians at home, empowered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and oversaw the systematic repression of the Iranian people. His leadership entrenched a theocratic system that exported terror abroad—we are well aware of that here in Australia—whilst denying, as we have been watching now for months and months and months on TV, freedom at home.

Let me be clear on behalf of the coalition, who put forward this motion and supported the suspension of standing orders so that the Australian Senate could clearly record its position on the death of the ayatollah and what it means. He was the architect of decades of repression. He is gone. This is the figure who presided over violent crackdowns on students, on women, on journalists, on ordinary citizens demanding nothing more and nothing less than respect and dignity. He is gone. This is not insignificant, as Senator Wong would want us to believe; it is, quite frankly, historic. In saying that, the coalition will acknowledge the moral clarity, the resolve and the decisiveness shown by the United States of America and the State of Israel.

For years, Iran advanced its nuclear capability, expanded its ballistic missile program and strengthened a web of violent proxies across the region, all under Khamenei's watch and all within the operational muscle of the IRGC. The United States and Israel did not ignore that trajectory. They undertook sustained efforts to degrade Iran's nuclear infrastructure. They targeted the command-and-control structures that enabled escalation. They made it clear that the acquisition of nuclear weapons by the Iranian regime would not be tolerated. They have also acted to prevent a regime that openly called for Israel's destruction from acquiring the ultimate weapon that could do so much global devastation. For that, for drawing a line against nuclear proliferation and regional destabilisation, the coalition is grateful—grateful for the decisive action taken before a nuclear threshold was crossed, grateful that our allies were prepared to shoulder the burden of confronting an escalating threat, grateful that the message has been sent to the international community that we will not be paralysed in the face of existential danger.

A nuclear-armed Iran would have shattered regional stability. It would have emboldened Hezbollah, Hamas and other proxies. It would have accelerated proliferation, it would have placed existential pressure on Israel, and it would have severely undermined the global non-proliferation regime. That matters profoundly to us here in Australia. We are a trading nation, dependent on secure sea lanes and stable markets. We have Australians living and working throughout the Middle East. We have communities here at home who fled that violent repressive regime. They know because they experienced. So many of us sat with the communities and listened to their stories of, quite frankly, living in hell. They experienced the consequences of Iranian linked extremism.

But this is a moment that is not only about strategy; it is, as we have now seen on our TV screens, about freedom. For decades the Iranian people have lived under repression. It was Iranian women who marched, demanding basic rights—rights that we have here in Australia and we live with each and every day. It was Iranian students who filled the streets, calling for liberty. It was Iranian workers who protested corruption and economic mismanagement.

Do you know what the response was from that vile, repressive Iranian regime? It was the IRGC that answered them with batons, bullets and prison cells. This motion rightly condemns the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC. They are the hardline security apparatus that has dominated Iran's political system and has brutalised, slaughtered, tortured, murdered its own citizens. It is the IRGC that, on our television screens you could see, were crushing peaceful protests; it is the IRGC that oversaw imprisonment and the execution of dissidents; it is the IRGC that violently enforced the repression of women and girls; it is the IRGC that funds and arms proxy groups across the region; and it is the IRGC, as Australians—in particular, Jewish Australians—know, that has been linked to extremist and antisemitic activity affecting Jewish Australians here, right here in Australia, on our home soil. When foreign directed networks seek to intimidate Jewish Australians, that is not a distant geopolitical issue. It is a direct challenge to our sovereignty, our social cohesion and our national security.

With Khamenei's death, a door has opened to the possibility of a different future for Iran: a future where nuclear ambition does not eclipse prosperity, a future where the IRGC does not dictate political life, a future where women are not beaten for defying the strict religious dress codes, a future where young Iranians are not imprisoned for demanding, again, what we as Australians live and breathe each and every day—basic freedoms. We should say it plainly: freedom is what we all want for the Iranian people. We don't want chaos. We don't want anarchy. What we want for them is the freedom to determine their own destiny without the fear of the IRGC.

The motion also, though, expresses deep concern at the recent Iranian attacks on civilian infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, including the disruption of operations at major airports in Dubai and other places. Targeting civilian infrastructure is reckless escalation. It endangers innocent lives, including Australians'. It destabilises aviation routes and threatens regional security. It underscores precisely why the IRGC's conduct cannot be normalised.

The coalition's position is clear, and that is why we wanted the suspension of standing orders today, as this historic moment is unfolding. We reject unequivocally any future Iranian acquisition of nuclear weapons capability, we condemn the IRGC sponsorship of terrorism and destabilisation, we condemn attacks on civilian infrastructure by the IRGC, and we stand firmly against antisemitism and foreign interference on Australian soil. The death of Khamenei marks the end of an era of impunity for a regime that believed it could oppress at home and destabilise abroad without consequences. That era of impunity is now over.

Of course, as commentators spoke about over the weekend, what comes next is something that we all hope for: we want the Iranian people to finally be able to chart a freer path. The coalition is very, very clear on where it stands. We stand with freedom. We stand with those in Iran who have risked everything for dignity, who have risked everything for the basic freedoms that they have been denied now for so long. We, of course, stand against nuclear proliferation and we stand against terrorism. But we also stand with our allies—and that's why the first paragraph of the motion is so important—when they act to prevent existential threats from materialising.

As I said, the Senate was right—despite the opposition by the foreign minister and the government—to suspend standing orders. Again, I record my sincere disappointment that, at such a pivotal moment in history, when the Ayatollah, one of the most evil people in history, has been killed, and where a door is opening—a door that hopefully signals freedom for the Iranian people—the government did not think this motion was important enough to actually stop the business of the Senate and suspend standing orders. The Senate, though, was right to suspend standing orders; silence at this profound moment would have been abdication.

This is a moment of consequence for regional stability and for global security but, more than that, for the Iranian people themselves. This chamber I hope will send a very clear message: 'no' to nuclear weapons in Iran, 'no' to the IRGC's campaign of repression and terror, 'yes' to freedom, 'yes' to security and 'yes' to solidarity with the Iranian people. I thank the Senate, without the government, for allowing us to debate this important motion, and I do commend the motion to the Senate.

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

While I was sitting here listening to that debate, I was actually receiving some messages from counterparts in the region. That is the real work around a conflict that is real, that is costing lives and that is occurring as we speak. I again say to Senator Cash, if the Liberal Party had genuinely wanted a debate on this, they could have spoken to us. It is true that, between Saturday night, when this occurred, and the Senate sitting, we've been occupied by some other matters. I haven't been focused—

Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Paterson!

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

 We received this information on Saturday night. I was briefed. I engaged with my counterpart the foreign minister of Israel. We were up very early because, obviously, briefings occur. We had a National Security Committee of the cabinet. We set up the consular crisis centre. We made announcements. You would have seen, I hope, some of the press conferences around that to ensure Australians were informed, and, obviously, the Prime Minister and senior ministers again met last night. So, if the opposition had wanted a serious discussion about a war that is going on, they could have done us the courtesy of saying so.

Because, Senator, the government was focused on two things. The first priority is to keep Australians safe. We have 115,000 Australians in the region, and, with respect, my priority is those Australians; it is not the opposition. If the opposition had said to us, 'We want—'

An opposition senator interjecting—

Senator, I'm so sorry—I know, you're a senator, and I respect the role. But we have 115,000 Australians in a region which is currently seeing casualties across the region. We have seen Dubai airport hit. It is a very challenging situation, and I want to start by making clear to the Senate our first priority is to keep Australians safe, and we are working around the clock to do that.

Now I have some general comments about what we have seen. People would have seen the Prime Minister's and my statements Saturday night with the Deputy Prime Minister, then in the media yesterday and also this morning. I want to make clear that Australia stands with the brave people of Iran. They are struggling against oppression. The Iranian regime has been a destabilising force, including through its ballistic missile program, its nuclear program, its support for armed proxies and its brutal acts of violence and intimidation. Australia has consistently called for the Iranian regime to uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Iran's citizens. We know that the regime has instead initiated a brutal crackdown that killed thousands of its citizens.

We have said that we support the action 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. We have also made clear that Australia did not participate in these strikes, but obviously we are in contact with our international partners. We have said we don't want to see further regional escalation. We know the consequences of that, and we are seeing some of that now. We urge the protection of civilian life, and, going forward, there will need to be a resumption of dialogue and diplomacy. And we join with our other partners in calling for all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law.

I also want to make some comments about the indiscriminate attacks that the Iranian regime is currently making against party countries, not only Israel—and we mourn the loss of life on all sides—but countries who are not a party to this conflict, like the United Arab Emirates, with whom we have a very close relationship, and the countries

of the region who are being affected even though they are not parties to the conflict.

In relation to Australians overseas, we are working around the clock, as I said. It will be a challenging period—a very challenging period. I've made clear that Australians requiring urgent consular assistance can contact the emergency centre on 1300555135 in Australia or 61262613305 from outside Australia. I made clear publicly that there are about 115,000 Australians in the region. They are my priority, not Senator Cash's motion. And people would be aware of the traffic through the region. I think it is about 11,000 people a day coming in and out of Australia utilising Etihad, Emirates or Qatar. That gives the Senate chamber some indication of the scale of the disruption.

We have opened the registration portal for all Australians in Israel and Iran. That was a decision on Sunday. This morning I directed that we open that registration portal, given what had happened overnight, for the UAE and Qatar as well. At the moment, communication is patchy and the situation is very distressing. We will continue to provide what information we can, as quickly as we can. Our focus at the moment is to provide that information and to continue to work with the airlines to try to ensure that we have availability on commercial flights as they become available. We hope we will see that in the near future.

I would also make this point to the Australian Greens: this issue didn't start with the strikes over the weekend. Iran has oppressed the human rights of its citizens for four decades. Very little is said by your party about that.

You are supposedly an antinuclear party, united in trying to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon. But I haven't seen the Greens say anything about the games Iran has played, including preventing the International Atomic Energy Agency from conducting independent inspections. That's because it doesn't fit your narrative. It's very selectively loud.

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

You are lying, like always.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Acting Deputy President, I'd ask you to—I mean, the interjections are revealing, both from over here, complaining about their staff allocation, and from over here. He ought to withdraw that imputation.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, senators. Interjections are disorderly. If there is disagreement with what is said, then that can be had in the course of the debate. I understand, Senator Shoebridge, you made a remark that I won't repeat, but I would ask that you withdraw it.

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

I withdraw.

Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Shoebridge. I give an indication to the chamber that Senator Wong, as every other senator, is entitled to be heard in silence, and that respect should be shown.

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

Iran has directed antisemitic and hateful attacks on Australian soil. I understand—we understand, as a government—there are a range of views about this conflict in the Australian community. There are those, like Senator Cash, who have a particular view. There are those, like Senator Shoebridge, who have a particular view. There are those, like the Iranian Australian community, many of whom are very supportive of the action that has been taken—not all.

We don't pretend that this isn't a complex and long-running issue, nor does this government ignore the facts. Iran has brought death and destruction under its regime for decades. Those are facts. We do not mourn the passing of Ayatollah Khamenei. I would like to go through what this government has done in respect of Iran since we came to government. I think it is important to note that we have taken stronger action than any previous Australian government. We've expelled the ambassador. We suspended operations at our embassy in Tehran. We've listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a state sponsor of terrorism. We've sanctioned more than 200 Iranian linked individuals, more than 100 of whom are linked to the IRGC.

I make the point that those opposite really want this debate. They want the politics of this debate. But, in nine long years in government, there was not one new sanction on Iran. There was not one word of complaint when Iran was elected to the Commission on the Status of Women, a committee they're a member of. Now, this party teams up with the Greens to have a political stunt to show how tough they are on Iran.

Finally, I will close with an amendment. As I said, I saw Senator Cash's motion, not because she sent it to me but because it was circulated. I think I received it while I was sitting in the cabinet. Our amendment is only in relation to paragraphs (a) and (b) and to add two additional paragraphs. I move the amendment as circulated:

Omit paragraphs (a) and (b), insert:

a) Supports efforts by the United States and Israel to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security;

b) Stands in solidarity with the Iranian Australian community, and recognise their relief of Iranian Australians following the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, a brutal dictator who has oppressed the Iranian people for decades;

c) Condemns the Iranian regime for its decades of attacks and destabilisation of its neighbours, through its ballistic missile and nuclear programs and support for armed proxies;

d) Calls for dialogue and the pursuit of diplomatic pathways to restore peace and security;

It is an opportunity for there to be a sensible motion before the chamber. Again, I would say that, as a matter of courtesy to the chamber, if the chamber had wanted an organised debate on Iran, the government would have facilitated it. But you chose not to do that. Senators Cash and Shoebridge chose to delay the Closing the gap report to date, which was scheduled, in a suspension of standing orders because they both have a similar agenda, which is to try and elevate the politics of this issue. We're not focused on the politics of this issue. We're focused on the 115,000 Australians who are in the region and on continuing to put our view as to a future for the region in which all peoples of the region know peace and stability.

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

Again, we now see Labor and the coalition, but with their new friends in One Nation, coming in to support another US forever war. Labor, the coalition and One Nation are now the three war parties in this parliament. They've never seen an attack by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu that they haven't wanted to back in and support.

We have seen the Albanese Labor government rush to be the first country in the world to back in Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu's latest illegal war—literally rushing to back in a war that Labor knows is in gross breach of international law. There's a reason that the Foreign minister has refused to even discuss whether or not this war is illegal, and it's that Labor knows it's illegal. Labor know that the argument put forward by their friend Donald Trump and his running mate Benjamin Netanyahu—that this is about stopping some imminent nuclear threat in Iran—is a lie, just like they knew that the so-called weapons of mass destruction that were used to justify a previous Labor war were a lie. Labor are going in to bat for Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu in this illegal, widespread attack against the Iranian people, and they know they're doing it on a lie.

It is extraordinary that neither Foreign minister Wong nor Prime Minister Albanese is willing to come out and tell the Australian people the truth: US military bases here at Pine Gap and the North West Cape are being used to target and support Donald Trump's illegal attacks on Iran. They know that that's the purpose of Pine Gap. They know it's used to target military attacks in the Middle East. It's been used to target military attacks in Gaza, and now it's being used to target military attacks in Iran, and what do Labor say? They say, 'We won't even mention it; we won't talk about it,' because it's bloody awkward for Labor to back in a war which has already killed more than 100 schoolkids in the first 24 hours. Schoolgirls are being pulled out of rubble in a war that Labor supports. Multiple schools are being hit, targeted and destroyed in a war that Labor supports. A hospital was blown apart by Israeli missiles in a war that Labor support with their new friends in One Nation and the coalition.

Is there no line in the sand that Labor are willing to draw to say they won't take this step with Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu? It seems there is no line in the sand. They come here and say that this bombing and killing in Iran is for the Iranian people, as though their friend Donald Trump cares the slightest about the interests of the Iranian people. Trump—Labor, the coalition and One Nation's partner in AUKUS—doesn't care about peace and human rights in the United States, let alone in Iran. And you come here and you peddle this nonsense that somehow this is about some positive regime change, just like how the US's endless forever war in Iraq was meant to be about positive regime change or how the US's endless war in Afghanistan was meant to be about positive regime change—so-called for the people of Afghanistan or the people of Iraq.

Labor's support for this war is ignorant of history. The US are engaging in this war, not because they support Women, Life, Freedom. The Greens have been on the record for years supporting Women, Life, Freedom, working with the Iranian people who are showing brave resistance to a brutal regime. We know that foreign bombing, foreign attacks, blowing up schools and blowing up hospitals isn't about the Iranian people. The Iranian people have been killed by the brutal regime in Iran, and now they are being killed by bombs and missiles from Israel and the United States, and Labor backs that war in.

Then you have the nerve to stand up and say that you want it to de-escalate. You oppose the escalation of violence in the regime—the missiles and bombs that are now falling around the region as Iran responds to the attack. The Greens oppose that bombing and killing too. We hate seeing the missiles and the bombs landing in Dubai and around the region. Of course that's appalling. But it was an inevitable response to the latest US illegal war that Labor has backed in. It wasn't an accident. The chaos and the killing that is now spreading to the region was always going to be a response to this illegal war by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, and you pretend that you care. You back in the original crime, and then you pretend you care about the response.

People see through Labor. They see you joining with the coalition and joining with One Nation in your rush to support Donald Trump and his latest illegal war. They see the foreign minister hiding from basic accountability about whether or not this is consistent with international law. They see Prime Minister Albanese refusing to do a press conference and talk about the scores and scores of Iranian kids who have been killed in just the first 24 hours of the war that he's supporting. They see you hiding from this. They see you hiding from it when you didn't even want a debate in the Senate this morning about it. Apparently, you were too busy. You had other things to do. You didn't want to talk about the kids that are being killed, about the hospitals that are being blown up or about the chaos that you are supporting in the region.

Think about what happened the last time the United States did a war of choice in this region. They went in under another lie about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. We know that was a lie, just like this war is based on a lie. They went in, and we had statements from the US leadership at the time as chaos enveloped Iraq, as systems were destroyed and as hunger and killings spread. We had the United States saying: 'Oh well, freedom is untidy, isn't it?' The people of Iraq had to suffer through two decades of bombings and killings and chaos to satisfy the US war machine and the US illegal war on Iraq. Now you want that on Iran, and you tell us you care about the Iranian people.

I can tell you that the mums who are pulling their kids out of the rubble don't see freedom. They're not talking about regime change. They're grieving about the loss of their kids, their daughters. They see through you. They see through your endless support for war. They see through your toadying to Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, and they see their country potentially being thrown into chaos. Think about it. If Iran falls into chaos, like Iraq fell into chaos and like Syria fell into chaos, think about what that means for the world and the instability that spreads across all the neighbouring countries that are already so fragile. Yet you back it in. You don't have a plan B. There is no plan B. You bomb and you kill, and you support Donald Trump's bombing and killing, and you are reckless about the consequences for the Iranian people or the region as a whole.

We hear Donald Trump saying, 'Now it's up to the Iranian people, after the bombing and killing, to somehow, through some unspecified path, overthrow the brutal dictatorship.' We support the Iranian people's calls for freedom. We support those brave Iranian men, women and students who have been out there calling for freedom, but their freedom is further from being achieved than ever, because the regime will use the foreign attack and its monopoly of state sanctioned violence like it has before. Only now, the killings will be from the regime, Israel and the United States all at the same time.

The Greens stand for peace here. We oppose those troops embedded in the United States military, which Labor doesn't want to talk about, being part of this bombing. We oppose Pine Gap being used in the bombing. We oppose North West Cape being used in the bombing. We oppose our toadying relationship with the United States. We support an independent defence and foreign policy for Australia so we don't keep getting involved in the United States's forever wars and so that we don't rain death and destruction down on the next country in the Middle East that Labor decides it wants to target with Donald Trump.

I say this: we are the only party in this parliament who stands on the side of international law, who stands genuinely on the side of the Iranian people, who stands genuinely on the side of peace. We now see you for what you are: the three war parties, One Nation, the coalition and Labor, who have never seen a US war they don't want to back in. Millions of Australians disagree with you. They want a government of principle, they want a government of peace, they want the best for the Iranian people and they say no to Trump's and Netanyahu's war, and we stand with them.

I move an amendment to Labor's amendment:

Omit all words after "That the Senate", substitute: "(a) notes:

(i) the Albanese Labor Government was the first in the world to support Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu's illegal attacks on Iran, backed in by One Nation and the Liberal party;

(ii) already, the Iranian people are the victims of Trump and Netanyahu's war, with hundreds killed in Israeli and US bombings of primary schools and hospitals;

(iii) these attacks have seen the very people oppressed by the Iranian regime face more violence, more hardship, more bloodshed and more fear; and

(b) calls on the Albanese Government to:

(i) immediately withdraw all support to Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu's war with Iran and work with like-minded countries to promote peace in the region and for the people of Iran;

(ii) stop all intelligence and resources from Pine Gap, North West Cape and other US military assets in Australia assisting this illegal war and recalling all Australian troops seconded in the US military;

(iii) as an act of immediate solidarity, provide permanent protection to people who sought asylum by sea in Australia and are denied safety, hundreds of whom are from Iran; and

(iv) acknowledge that the world cannot bomb its way to peace and that US-led foreign wars in the Middle East have never helped the people of the countries they have attacked and have always seen devastating bloodshed."

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to thank the Australian Senate for allowing the diverse views that exist in this chamber, that the Australian people have sent to parliament, to have the debate this morning, to not be silenced at what is such an extraordinary time globally. I rise also to acknowledge the steadfast efforts of the United States and the State of Israel in preventing the Islamic Republic of Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability. Their cooperation over recent years has been central to limiting a threat that long cast a shadow over the Middle East and global security. I note the foreign minister's immediate response yesterday was exactly the same as her response post the October 2023 massacre in Israel. It was to call for a de-escalation. The fact is Australia has consistently supported international efforts to ensure Iran never acquires the capacity to build or deploy nuclear arms. We reaffirm that position today without hesitation.

The Iranian regime under the late Ayatollah Khamenei has presided over decades of repression, violence and destabilisation in the region. His rule was marked by unimaginable cruelty to his own people and hostility towards nations in the region and beyond. We hope his death marks a turning point.

The reach of the Islamic republic's influence was not confined to the Middle East. Its intelligence networks and proxies extended far beyond the Middle East, including here at home in Australia. Individuals linked to the regime have supported extremist activity, targeted Jewish communities and fuelled antisemitic incidents on our own soil. Let's stop deluding ourselves. The actions were deliberate and planned attempts to infiltrate anti-Jewish groups, inflame communities and cause physical harm to Jews in Australia. And yet we witnessed the appalling scenes of prominent Australians marching behind posters of the Ayatollah at the now infamous harbour bridge march. It was a moment that caused deep distress to our Jewish community and, yes, to Iranian Australians, who fled the very brutality that those images represented. Iran's proxies have inflicted violence and instability across the region—in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait and, of course, Israel. Their actions targeted civilians, undermined governments and threatened the security of countless families who simply want to live in peace. And, yes, the overwhelming number of people killed under this regime since 1979 have been Muslims. The regime's victims include Kurds, Arabs, Yazidis, Sunni and Shia Muslims, political dissidents, protesters and ordinary citizens.

Today, above all, we express solidarity with the Iranian people, including many Australians who were born in Iran or have family still living under the regime's grip. They have endured decades of censorship, surveillance and fear. Iranian women in particular have faced systematic oppression, forced dress codes, violent crackdowns and imprisonment for the simple act of demanding basic rights, and that's to say nothing of the degradation and appalling treatment of the Iranian gay community—something I don't hear those on the progressive left mention enough in this chamber. But it is absolutely appalling what gay men in particular are subjected to under that regime. Yet those who claim to champion women and gay rights elsewhere fall silent when it comes to those cohorts in Iran. I call out the hypocrisy of the Greens and Labor left—absolute hypocrites to talk about the rights of women and the gay community and not do anything substantial to help them in this particular time. Their courage, particularly that of the women, deserved far more from the international community and from Australia than it received.

Australia stands with the Iranian people in their pursuit of freedom, dignity and democratic self-determination. What happens next is very uncertain, but we can only hope that the end of this brutal regime will presage a better life for the Iranian people and, indeed, for the region.

The pathos and moral chiding of the Foreign minister that we saw earlier were instructive. The Foreign minister has the great privilege of representing our country at times like this. Labor won the election, and being Foreign minister of a country like ours is a tough and challenging role. To come in here and school us as if we've been naughty children in wanting to debate an historic, extraordinary event, despite our different views in this chamber, says a lot about that Foreign minister and how she views her role.

The opposition today, under the shadow Attorney-General and our leader, has moved a motion to have the debate and to commend our allies and the Iranian people, and that is an appropriate response for an opposition in an Australian democracy to take at a time like this. I am very concerned that the Foreign minister felt she could treat us like schoolchildren in that moment.

As we've debated around the chamber, I want to comment briefly on Senator Shoebridge's outrageous remarks, which were really just an anti-Trump spray instead of actually saying anything substantive about the plight of the Iranian people and our hopes for their self-determination and about how the rights of women and the gay community will be better as a result of the changes to that regime. I commend the motion to the Senate and hope the Senate supports it.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One Nation does support Senator Cash's motion. I was just gobsmacked to hear the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Wong, get up and say she was absolutely appalled by this stunt. This amendment—I will put on record what is in here—'congratulates the United States of America and the State of Israel for their sustained efforts to prevent the Islamic Republic of Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon' and welcomes the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, a brutal dictator who oppressed the Iranian people for decades. It goes on to condemn the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, 'for its sponsorship of terrorism globally, including its role in orchestrating antisemitic attacks targeting Jewish Australians on Australian soil, acts which represent a direct attack on our social cohesion and national security'; deplore 'the recent attacks by Iran on civilian infrastructure in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, including the suspension of operations at Dubai's major airports due to regional hostilities'; and express 'strong support for the Iranian people in their ongoing struggle against the IRGC'. I don't call it a stunt to raise this, in light of what happened over the weekend.

Also, I hear the Greens' and Senator Shoebridge's comments that they're not for war. There's not one senator in this place that would support war, but it is very important that we defend countries for their democracy and for the freedom of their people. It's quite amazing; they want their allies, but if war ever touched Australian shores—if any case of war were to happen in our country—wouldn't they be screaming and crying out for people around the world to support us? On the one hand we don't want war, but what would happen if it ever were to happen in Australia?

I want to say that to call it a stunt—

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Acting Deputy President Sharma, I wish to lodge a complaint here. Senator Thorpe is quietly saying, 'You're lying. You're lying,' repeatedly as Senator Hanson talks. It's more than anyone can bear, although Senator Hanson has done very well. Can you ask her to stop?

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Roberts, your point of order is interjections; is that correct?

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. I ask senators to listen respectfully to the speaker, and in silence. Senator Hanson.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much. I think what's happened here is that Senator Wong and the Labor Party have been caught with their pants down. They've been usurped by this motion of the Liberal Party, which is bringing it to the attention of the Senate. We've had an attack on Iran, and to say that it's about the people over there—this is a country that for 47 years has been under the attack of a radical Islamic dictatorship, where people were controlled. Again, I'll go back to the Greens worrying about the women and the children murdered. I never heard one word out of them when the attack on Israel happened, where 1,200 people were murdered, slaughtered and taken as hostages. There was not one word about compassion. Let's just disregard that.

When I turned on my television, I saw the Iranian people, not only in Iran but throughout Australia, flying the flag of jubilation and dancing in the streets, happy. That tells you how they feel about this attack. They're not the ones who are objecting to this. They know there has to be hurt and pain if they want to get out of 47 years of control. Their lives have been controlled. You talk about women. What's happened over there? If you were a woman and you took off your hijab or you didn't cover up, you actually got a flogging, you got fined $15,000 or you got imprisoned, and some lost their lives. That's what they've been fighting for. The protests and the lives lost in this past four to five weeks have been deplorable.

I congratulate Senator Trump and the United States. They have now given the people back their freedom and liberty. I congratulate Netanyahu, who is part of this.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course you would!

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He has stopped this, giving democracy back to the people of Iran.

The other big factor here is the nuclear weapons. If Iran got nuclear weapons, there would be an outcry by the whole world. There is no way that could be allowed to happen. So I do support this motion. I will not be supporting the Shoebridge amendment at all and what it calls for.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And Trump isn't a senator. You called him Senator Trump. What planet are you on?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will just say congratulations to the Liberal Party in bringing this forward. I think it's very important. I want the people of Australia to know what is in this motion and why the Labor Party couldn't support it. Why couldn't you support it? You can't tell me that each and every one of you agrees with not supporting this. This is where it's just follow the leader. There's no independent freethinking from the Labor Party whatsoever. You just follow the leader. You've done it time and time again. The Voice was another one. You just follow the leader. Where's your representation of the Australian people? Where's your representation of the Iranian people out there who are joyous about what's happened in their country. You've done nothing. Those Iranian people are standing in your country. It's unbelievable.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What have you ever done for the Iranian women in detention in Australia?

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I ask that senators listen to other senators in silence and respectfully. Every senator will have an opportunity to speak.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is your whole attitude. This is the Greens' attitude, right? The Greens are the most un-Australian people here in this Senate. They are the most un-Australian people, who do not fight for this country, our flag or our patriotism—nothing.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sit down.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is what I hear all the time, and that's another one. I'll keep going. So immature you are! You have no idea what's going on. So immature! I wish you would actually start fighting for the Australian people. They're here listening to you. They want some representation here from this parliament.

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson, please direct your remarks through the chair.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Anyway, I think I've said everything. Congratulations, Senator Cash.

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before Senator Waters starts, could I ask that other senators listen respectfully to each other's contributions.

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

This weekend, US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu launched a new illegal bombing campaign against Iran, unilateral bombing in breach of international law—

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She just called me a bitch.

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, do you have a point of order?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do. I just got called a bitch by the racist.

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind senators to use respectful language at all times in the chamber, including when they are not speaking. Senator Thorpe, did you have a further point of order?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I'm good now, thanks.

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Waters, resume.

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

Thanks very much, Acting Deputy President. This weekend, US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu launched a new illegal bombing campaign against Iran, unilateral bombing in breach of international law—bombing of schools, which has killed already over 100 schoolgirls. And do you know who the first in the world to support Trump and Netanyahu's illegal attacks was? It was this Labor government. The Australian government's support for Trump and Netanyahu's latest illegal war is a clear breach of international law and the prohibition on wars of aggression.

This war will not bring safety to brave Iranian people who are fighting for liberation from a brutal regime. It is always civilians—women and children—who suffer most in war. What does killing more than 100 schoolchildren or the fresh strikes on a hospital reported this morning have to do with peace? Our hearts ache for those girls and those families. This war will see homes and cities razed to the ground and countless innocent lives lost. The Iranian people deserve to be free from persecution and domination, particularly Iranian girls and women, who've faced decades of oppression and who have bravely fought back as the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. But the Iranian people deserve to be free from persecution and domination both from the current regime and from foreign powers. The US and Israel are not acting out of concern for human rights in Iran. They cannot be trusted to do what's in the best interests of Iran or anyone's human rights anywhere. History shows, and the world knows, that US military attacks and Donald Trump's kidnappings and assassinations do not produce peace and do not produce justice.

While US bombs and missiles rain down on Iran, there is every likelihood that they're being targeted with the direct or indirect assistance of joint US-Australian military facilities at Pine Gap and North West Cape. The Greens condemn these illegal, abhorrent and unilateral attacks. Australians do not want to be dragged into yet another US/Israeli war. Australians deserve an independent foreign policy where we are not just Trump's lapdog, giving billions for nuclear submarines that we'll likely never receive—an independent foreign policy, not support for another illegal war. US led foreign wars in the Middle East have never helped the people of the countries that they attacked, and they have always seen devastating bloodshed.

This Labor government has completely discarded its principles. How much has changed since 2003, when then Labor leader Simon Crean declared the Iraq war to be illegal, unnecessary and unjust, or when he told a Brisbane rally against the Iraq war, 'Let's send the strongest message possible today, the message that says no to unilateral attacks by the US', or since 2014 when Bill Shorten told parliament:

More than a decade ago, Simon Crean stood at this dispatch box as Labor leader to support our troops, but oppose a war. History has vindicated his judgement.

Well, I think history will look very poorly on this Labor government and its continued support for Trump and Netanyahu's war mongering. The Labor government must immediately rule out further Australian support for Trump and Netanyahu's illegal war. Labor must confirm to the Australian people that no intelligence from Pine Gap or other US bases in Australia was used in these strikes and it must rule out allowing these bases to be used in this illegal war going forward. It is unacceptable to refuse to answer questions from the media or public about Australia's role, and our fourth estate should press them to give a response.

The Greens have consistently and clearly condemned the Iranian regime's violent response to recent protests and its long history of oppression, and we have strongly backed the Woman Life Freedom movement. We know that the people of Iran who have been victims of the regime will be the same very people right now being killed, injured and driven into further poverty and fear by US bombing. The Greens will always advocate for peace and for upholding international law and we will always oppose war. War is never the answer. You cannot bomb your way to peace.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I find it dangerous and outrageous that both major parties are praising what is a blatant violation of international law. The recent violence committed by the Iranian regime against civilians and protesters must be absolutely condemned. This in no way opens the door for the US and Israel to break international law and pave the way for nations across the world to disregard the international order. This order has come into place for a reason following the Second World War. It is intended to hold nations wanting to gain even bigger power in check and to protect the human rights of everyone across the globe.

This action taken against Iran and the action the US took against the Venezuelan leader have set dangerous precedents and may mean leaders of other nations might follow suit and take what they think should be theirs. Who can guarantee Russia or China will not follow suit? It also sets up the region for what we saw before in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, where US intervention caused protracted conflict and civilians died in the thousands.

What this conversation is also completely missing is that, in the course of the strikes on Iran, many innocent lives were lost. A school was hit and over 100 children died, and patients at a major hospital in Tehran had to be evacuated. These are civilians, and time and time again major powers play political games that disregard the most basic human right—the right to life.

The UN has not condemned these attacks for nothing. It is seeking to uphold international law and international human rights. I would like to know, from both the government and the coalition, have you now publicly unsubscribed from our international obligations?

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to support the motion moved by Senator Cash because I think it is important that, as a country, we express absolute support for the right thing to be done for a people that have been oppressed in the most vile and evil of ways. While horrible, massive consequences flow from some of the actions that have been taken, they are necessary to protect peace and good order for a people who have had those taken from them for so long. To hear some of the other contributors to this debate talk about the need to condemn that vile regime run by the ayatollahs, but then, in the same breath, suggest that we do nothing about it is not what we, as freedom-loving, tolerant, democratic nations of the West, should do. This sort of activity requires response, not just words uttered in a Senate chamber a long way away. To hear these freedom fighters—as they are, most days of the week—basically say that we should just sit here, wring our hands, have dialogue, hope for the best and hope things work out over there is not what we're used to hearing from this crowd. But that's what they're saying now: 'Let's condemn them, and then let's hope that the rule of law and the rules based order prevails,' which is something that they don't often stand up for. I find it rather incongruous, given all of the contributions they normally make in this place on similar matters.

I had the good fortune last Friday of meeting a representative of the Iranian community, in Hobart, as a matter of fact—a local practising dentist, who'd had the blessing of being able to leave that country as a child, as things were turning into the environment that now is, in Iran, and to go abroad and study and, ultimately, to now be settled in Australia and be raising two children in beautiful Hobart. It was a great opportunity for me to hear exactly what the people who are left behind in Iran have been experiencing for some time.

We talk a lot about the oppression and violence inflicted upon women across the world. But it seems that, when it comes to Iran and what they have been doing to women and other minorities—the LGBTI community, Kurds and other racial and ethnic minorities—it doesn't matter; it's as though we should actually just let this continue on because that's what is right. I just can't understand it.

As was conveyed to me in that meeting, it's hard to find an Iranian who does not want the world to take decisive action to deal with the matters that that community, that country, those innocent people, have been facing. This is not an attack on the Iranian people. There's this language framing it up as a war on Iran and its people. That's not what this is. This is about freeing a people from one of the most vile, evil and oppressive regimes that has existed in modern history. That's what this is about. It's intended to save people from a regime that has inflicted immense suffering for such a long period of time.

At that meeting on Friday I was presented with a list of 82 names of individuals in Iran reportedly facing execution under the regime, some of them as young as 13 years of age. One has to question what on earth a 13-year-old might be doing lined up for execution under a regime of this nature. It's impossible to defend such activity, and I'll be interested to hear if anyone in this place ever thought it was acceptable for a 13-year-old to be lined up for the death penalty.

I had given thought to reading that list of names here, but I was advised—given the way the IRGC operate, in their clandestine ways and ways that are not supportive of freedom and democracy—that it was probably best not to put these names on the record. Certainly, I know they have been published online, and, if anyone should ever wish to review the list, I'd be happy to provide it to them.

But these are not just names, of course. These are lives. They are people. They're children. They're siblings. They're people who are on this list, facing execution, just because they're fighting for something we take for granted every day of the week: the right for women to protest, their right to dress as they wish, their right to practise the religion they want to practise, their right to continue to observe cultural norms that might not line up with what the ayatollahs think is right in their country or legal. This violent crackdown on people who participate in these protests culminating in the worst of circumstances, in the death penalty, is something that we can't just stand by and allow to continue to be perpetuated. We do have to take a stand. That's why what has happened—as awful as it is to observe—is right for this country, because it is a reset for these people who have been so badly treated by an evil regime since 1979.

If we leave these things unattended, if we stand idly by, as those who oppose this motion would suggest, and hope for the best, those people—those 82 names that I have here before me—will face execution. Execution is irreversible. You can't just pretend these things aren't happening. As I said before, these are people who are doing what they believe is right, doing things that in this country would be permitted by law and, in fact, embraced under our tolerant, pluralistic approach to life. Why can't we assist them in doing what is right for them, for their freedoms, for their country?

I join with others in condemning those who've said that these attacks over the weekend to remove from Iran leadership which is just pure evil—I condemn those who have condemned those attacks, because they are misguided to suggest that taking this decisive action is not right, is not what is in the interests of the Iranian people and will not help free them from this oppression. It's time they took a good, long, hard look in the mirror and realised what they are allowing to happen by not supporting motions like this.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This morning, I received an email from a constituent who was born into the Islamic regime in Iran. Her parents were Muslim yet converted to Christianity, and they were successful in fleeing Iran and moving to Australia. These are her words, based on her lived experience and that of her family:

My name is Janet Shay. I'm an Iranian-Australian.

Yesterday, on the 1st March 2026, the Leader of the Islamic Government of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed.

The Iranian people have waited 47 years for this moment.

This is a historical and joyful time for Iranians and for the world.

Although I am joyful for them, and hopeful that soon I may visit my family & the graves of my loved one in Iran, I am deeply concerned for us here in Australia.

I'll say that again: she is 'deeply concerned for us here in Australia'. She continues:

In 2025 Prime Minister Albanese declared Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (the IRGC) a terrorist organisation. Thank you Prime Minister.

However, declaring a group a terrorist organisation means very little if the ideology that drives that group continues to be taught and defended on Australian soil without consequence.

What does our government intend do about those living among us who actively promote and defend the same ideology that endorses killing of apostates, abusing women and the sexual violation of children.

On the 14th of December 2025 there was an attack on Bondi: on Australian soil, against Australians. The Prime Minister said sorry. Ok.

But sorry is not honesty about what we are dealing with. An ideology cannot be called terrorist overseas but acceptable when it's in our own country.

See, the people protesting in Iran are not afraid of being politically incorrect, to NAME what they endured under Islam. They are not going to be gaslit into calling it a misinterpretation.

So I'll follow in their footsteps and speak plainly.

There are two types of Muslims: a Good Muslim & a True Muslim. I know Good Muslims. They are kind, generous and they want exactly what the rest of us want:

safety, family, a future, a decent life. But they are good Muslims because they do not follow all that Islam actually instructs them to do. That is why they are good Muslims.

The Islamic government of Iran, the IRGC, Hamas, al-Qaeda, ISIS, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Houthis: these are not people who went rogue away from their faith.

These people read their Quran and said: we will do exactly as our holy leader instructs. By their own scripture's measure, they are the True Muslims.

The good Muslim and the true Muslim are two different people.

The word "Islamophobia" is used in Australia to shut down the freedom to have opposing conversations about the religion of Islam.

A phobia is an irrational fear—

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Senator Shoebridge.

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

The inflammatory language here of 'good Muslims' and 'true Muslims'—attacking the Muslim faith in the way that this senator is—is contrary to the standing orders. I'd ask you to have him withdraw that commentary and ensure that the debate we have in this chamber does not lead to that Islamophobia that we just heard from Senator Roberts.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Or hate speech.

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

Or, as my colleague says, hate speech.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Shoebridge, I don't quite see it as you do, but I'm going to check with the Clerk to make sure. The Clerk has concurred with me. You have the floor, Senator Roberts.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Janet Shay continues:

The word "Islamophobia" is used in Australia to shut down the freedom to have opposing conversations about the religion of Islam.

A phobia is an irrational fear. Reading the Quran and asking whether its teachings align with Australian values isn't irrational.

Christianity is openly mocked in our country without legal protection from criticism. Nor should there be such protection. In a free society, any belief system can be questioned.

But when Islam is questioned the conversation shuts down and the person asking the question is called 'the problem'. And the question about Islam NEVER gets answered.

She says:

Australia, we have the right to read, question and think for ourselves. Go to your local library. Pick up a copy of the Quran. Read the Hadith, the recorded words and example of their Prophet Muhammad. Draw your own conclusion and decide if Islam should be shielded from scrutiny in a democratic nation.

Demand that our government clearly distinguish between those who wish to live freely alongside us and those whose convictions oppose the safety and freedom of Australians.

And let us build our immigration, our policy and our national values accordingly.

That is not hatred. That is not phobia. That is us protecting ourselves.

It is not good enough for our government to call behaviour Terrorism when it's outside of our country and refuse to say the name when it is inside.

The people of Iran were duped into accepting an Islamic government and have paid for it in blood for 47 years, while the world stood by and didn't listen.

Do not let Australia learn that lesson the way Iran did.

Long live a free Australia.

Thank you, Janet Shay. I will return to this topic later today—the interests of Australian people at a time of threats to our security. This is what matters. The security of Australians is paramount to One Nation, and it should be paramount to every member of the Senate.

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to add my support to Senator Cash's motion. It will be a very important statement, if it is agreed to by this chamber, of solidarity and support with our allies and friends for the difficult but necessary military action that they decided to take over the weekend. We agree with much of the contribution that Senator Wong, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, made earlier in the debate. Much of what she says has bipartisan support. Like the government, we agree with the action that the United States and Israel have taken over the weekend. We agree that it's in Australia's national interest that the nuclear program of Iran be further degraded. We agree that it is in Australia's national interest that the ballistic missile program of Iran is further degraded. We agree with the government that no-one would mourn the Ayatollah Khamenei. In fact, we go further and say that it is a good thing that Ayatollah Khamenei is no longer in power and that many of his henchmen have been removed from office by the actions taken by Israel and the United States.

We say that not only because this is a regime that has menaced the Iranian people most terribly for almost 50 years—and, in recent months, has slaughtered an estimated tens of thousands of innocent civilian Iranians for the crime of protesting—but because Iran is the world's largest state sponsor of terror and has terrorised people across the Middle East and the world and because Iran has targeted us here at home in Australia, according to our own intelligence agencies, who have assessed that at least two of the attacks on the Australian Jewish community over the last two years were sponsored by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of the Iranian regime and that maybe many others were also ultimately guided, inspired and supported by Iran. For those reasons, we support what the government has said and what the government has done over the last 48 hours in relation to this issue.

However, one thing which I must disagree with the Foreign minister on is the government's failure to initiate their own motion in the Senate chamber this morning. It is utterly routine that, when there are major events in the world about which Australia has a view and an interest and in which Australian values are at stake, the government comes prepared at the beginning of a sitting week to make a statement on behalf of the parliament and the Australian people. The Foreign minister was unprepared to do so. Only she can explain exactly why the government was unprepared to do so, but I personally found the excuses in the Foreign minister's remarks this morning to be utterly unpersuasive.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Foreign minister and the government were indeed very busy over the weekend. There are important questions for the Australian government to decide, like facilitating the repatriation of Australian citizens in the Middle East, particularly in the gulf states, where they have been indiscriminately targeted by Iran lashing out. We know of course that the National Security Committee of cabinet was meeting yesterday. We know about that because it was being broadcast virtually live on Insiders. Presumably, this is the end of the government's position that it can't comment on the timing of National Security Committee of cabinet meetings.

However, we know that wasn't the only thing that the Foreign minister was doing yesterday. The reason why we know it's not the only thing the Foreign minister was doing yesterday is that it was reported, helpfully, by Paul Sakkal in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age in an article entitled 'Taylor opens door to One Nation deal—but Wong will test him on Hanson first'. Mr Sakkal writes:

Foreign Minister Penny Wong will pressure Angus Taylor's Liberal Party to take a stand against Pauline Hanson's controversial remarks about Muslims, as the opposition leader opens the door to a preference deal with One Nation in an upcoming byelection.

The article goes on to quote the Foreign minister, and it says:

"Australians expect their elected representatives to set the standard for our country and show basic respect for all Australians," Wong told this masthead on Sunday ahead of a debate on the Senate motion on Monday.

The Foreign minister, apparently in the midst of coordinating repatriation operations and coordinating with regional allies, took the time out from her day to speak to the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age about a motion to condemn a Sky News interview by a senator two weeks ago. That was the priority that the Foreign minister had on Sunday. The article goes on and says:

The Labor motion will affirm that Australia has "been built by the hard work, sacrifice and aspiration of people of every race and faith", call on senators to avoid divisive commentary, and censure Hanson for "comments seeking to vilify Muslim Australians".

Just in case there was any doubt about the motivation of the government in putting forward this motion and about whether it is sincerely motivated in addressing the conduct of Senator Hanson, which many of my colleagues have condemned—I put on the record today my endorsement of that condemnation, and I particularly want to call out the principled stance by Senator Matt Canavan. It's not fair, as Senator Hanson did, to say that there are no good Muslims in Australia. There are many good Muslims in Australia, including those that serve our country in uniform honourably and patriotically.

But, if we're still in any doubt about what the government's true motivation was in moving this motion, it has been revealed, courtesy of a quote from Senator Whiteaker, a first-term Labor senator from Western Australia, who the article says 'made clear Labor's intent to wedge the opposition and test its willingness to publicly rebuke One Nation, which has overtaken the coalition or drawn level in many polls'. She said:

We know the Liberals are racing to outflank Pauline Hanson on the far right but how low will they go?

I think it's very clear what the government's priority is today. They intend to move a motion as a political wedge to try and divide the coalition. That is what they are focused on That's what their priority was yesterday—devising a wedge motion.

Our priority is to come in here today to talk about a grave matter of international concern. Senator Ayres, who I know is speaking next, was interjecting across the chamber earlier, accusing the coalition of being engaged in student politics. There is nothing more student politics than devising wedge motions when we've got a major international crisis and devoting the time of your Foreign minister to this instead of focusing on grave matters of international security and the fate of Australian citizens stuck in the Middle East, in the gulf, wanting to know how they're going to come home and who is going to help them get here when commercial flights are not flying. Yet the government is focused on wedge motions about One Nation and a Sky News interview from two weeks ago. It will reflect on the government that that was their priority today. It will reflect on the government and the Foreign minister that they weren't ready today with a motion.

It could have been a moment of bipartisan support because, on the substantive issues, the disagreement between the government and the opposition is actually not great on this issue. It could have been a moment of affirmation. It could have been an opportunity to send a message internationally about where we stand and, critically, to express our solidarity and support with the Iranian diaspora in Australia. If you're in any doubt about where we should stand on this issue, just look at the joyous scenes of relief from Iranian Australians seen on our televisions last night and seen in our streets and in our communities. They are very clear that the end of this regime, if that does indeed come as a result of this military action, would be a very welcome thing. We have the opportunity, by supporting Senator Cash's motion today, to show where the Senate stands with the Australian people, the Iranian diaspora and, of course, our Jewish community, who have been viciously targeted by this regime. I call on the Senate to support the motion.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have to say, as somebody who is not afraid of partisan conflict from time to time—I engage in it happily myself—that I really despair at what has happened this morning. I genuinely despair at what has happened this morning. I saw a series of exchanges which were, given the personalities involved and given the accelerationist approach that is taken by the Greens political party and One Nation in this place around politics and conflict, inevitable. Once again, the Liberal Party, which used to be an alternative party of government, fell for that with the approach that they have taken in here this morning.

My complaint about this—I'll come to the substance of this in a moment—is not just procedural. It goes to the conduct and the motives of people in this place, the way that they conduct themselves outside of this place and the very real impact that has for political debate here in Australia. What we should be doing right now is dealing with the Closing the Gap statement that should have been made by the minister in this place when we commenced. But the interests and rights and progress and lack of progress in some areas, in terms of Aboriginal people, are pushed aside again—pushed aside again by the Greens political party, pushed aside again by the Liberal Party and pushed aside by One Nation and the National Party—in the interests of a divisive, nasty effort to elevate conflict in this place.

It could have been done completely differently. There is an alternative approach for people who are serious about the national interest. That would have been the traditional approach here. When there is a war on, when there is conflict overseas, when Australia's interests are engaged in these questions, there should have been an alternative way. The Closing the Gap statement and debate should have been at the same time, and it should be held for the same amount of time. There should have been engagement between the party that claims to be an alternative party of government and the government about the terms of a debate, when it was going to be held, whether agreement could be secured, and, in the absence of agreement, what the disagreement was about and how that would be dealt with by the Senate. That is how responsible parties of government engage over these questions, and that allows people to have their alternative views—absolutely. But what the Senate chose to do here utterly flies in the face of the national interest. The conduct of Senator Roberts in here before shows exactly why the alternative approach—that is, doing things in a decent way, doing them the Australian way—should have been taken rather than this deliberately undergraduate, deliberately hyperpartisan and deliberately conflict based approach that has been taken.

The Liberal Party made a choice today, and it's the same choice that they have made over and over again since they lost government in 2022. There is no issue that goes to our social cohesion, no issue that goes to conflict and no issue that goes to war and national security that the Liberal Party leadership has not been prepared to advance a highly partisan position on. That has had its consequences. Australians are walking away from them. With complete disregard to that, the Liberals have adopted a position here to do it again over this issue, which, no doubt, will have the same result. Contrary to what Senator Paterson just said, there aren't people in the Knesset, in Port Moresby, in Washington or anywhere else waiting to see what the resolution of the Australian Senate is. It matters here in the way that people conduct themselves.

The Liberal Party of Australia have chosen Mr Taylor as their leader, so we can expect not just more of the same but more of more of the same—more extremism. I know Senator Paterson is anxious to avoid discussions about the perilous position that they have not just found themselves in but made for themselves—whether or not they will continue to aid and abet the progress of the party that seeks to destroy them and replace the centre-right in Australian politics. We heard what Senator Roberts said. I'm old enough, now, to remember people saying very much the same thing about Australian Catholics. I remember the division and hurt that caused and the schisms in country towns all over Australia because of precisely that attitude in saying that all people of a particular faith have particular characteristics. It's an abomination to say that. It is un-Australian to say that. It runs contrary to all of our values that should be shared around this place.

But, in the context of a war—let's call it what it is, a war—Senator Roberts, Senator Cash, Senator McKenzie and the Greens political party see this as an opportunity to create more conflict in here and propagate that conflict outside. There's plenty of room for agreement, discussion and the development of an approach to this that would have met the objectives of what the Senate order was going to be today—questions around Aboriginal health, incarceration, the criminal justice system, education, land rights and all of those questions. Wouldn't a good outcome for Australians have been a sober, orderly, decent debate where we acknowledge our differences? Instead, what we've seen is more sloganeering from the Greens political party, more extremism from the Liberal Party and the national interest—and, don't forget, the interests of Aboriginal Australians—just being pushed aside.

The outcome of this conflict is uncertain. It is true that there are Iranians in the streets. That is true. It is true that there may be progress. There may be, but the outcome is uncertain. Those people, in real danger and in real struggle, are utterly let down by the conduct of senators who've decided to vote for this debate to happen in the way and manner that it is.

I saw the exchange here, and I saw people leaving the gallery—people with kids, just disgusted with this: the Greens, Senator Thorpe, Senator Roberts, the Liberal Party and National Party conflict behaviours—utterly ashamed of the way people have conducted themselves in this place. We ought to do the right thing in this place, not engage in hyperpartisanship. And we'll see the decision the Liberal Party makes, every day of the week, to bring that conflict in here, and we'll see it in Farrer in just a few weeks, or a few months, whenever that by-election is called. We'll see whether they continue to aid and abet the rise of a racist, extremist, accelerationist outfit that wants to promote conflict and promote violence and whether they support them and continue to go down the tube as a result. On that, I move that the motion be put.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm just waiting—I thought I heard a conversation between government and the opposition?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand that Senator Sharma is going to take three minutes, and then we'll—

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. Senator Sharma.

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Ayres, and those opposite for the forbearance.

Military action should never be undertaken lightly, and I understand the concerns and reservations people have in this chamber and elsewhere about the military action currently underway. But I believe that in this situation such military action is both necessary and justified. It is not as if diplomacy has not been tried and failed on many occasions. The United States was engaged in direct diplomatic negotiations with Iran as recently as last Thursday. There have been multiple multilateral and unilateral efforts over a decade and more seeking to address concerns about Iran's behaviour, its pursuit of nuclear enrichment and its violation of UN Security Council resolutions. This is a regime that, since taking power in 1979, has done its utmost to foment instability in its neighbours, to export terrorism around the world and to repress its own people and deny them hope.

Just last month we saw the regime kill most likely tens of thousands of protesters who took to the streets demanding their basic freedoms, demanding the right to a livelihood, demanding the ability to live with basic dignity and hope. I don't see how you can, on one hand, condemn this regime for treating these protesters with such disregard for their life but on the other hand condemn the mechanism and means to finally hold the regime to account. You need only see the people coming out onto the streets in Iran, at danger and risk to themselves, to celebrate the military operation that is underway against their country, that is targeting regime targets, targeting military facilities. It's targeting IRG facilities. They are coming out to celebrate this because, for the first time in generations, they have some hope for a better future. We should not be standing in the way of that; we should be supporting it. Does that mean the results of this operation are preordained or clear? No. Does it mean the future is uncertain? Yes. But at least this gives the Iranian people a chance and a hope.

I want to briefly say something about the consular response. Many Australians now are concerned, distressed, troubled because they're unable to get access to flights to leave the Middle East. I know DFAT is working hard. I know consular officials in the region are working hard. But I think the government should have done a better job in preparing the public for this. The risks of this conflict have been all too foreseeable over the past few weeks. Last week the Prime Minister was given an opportunity to air those risks to the public. He spent the whole week talking instead about the potential of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to succeed the throne. That was a misplaced priority. (Time expired)

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, three minutes.

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

Over the weekend we saw the start of another illegal, dangerous and senseless imperial war, launched by the same forces who have ruthlessly massacred Palestinians for more than two years now. It is beyond shameful that our supposed leaders, Prime Minister Albanese and Foreign Minister Wong, not only have failed to condemn this illegal aggression from Israel and the US but were among the first to enthusiastically back this bombing. You are all imperial warmongers. The foreign minister refuses to comment on the legality of the US and Israel's actions because she knows the answer: these actions are illegal, plain and simple. You don't get to pick and choose if Russia's brutal attack on Ukraine was illegal; so are the United States's attacks on Iran, as are their attacks on the myriad other countries they have attacked over the last few months.

Those who support this war will claim that they are in support of the Iranian people and their liberation from a brutal dictatorship. But do you seriously want us to believe that the US cares about the human rights of anyone after what they did in Iraq and Afghanistan? The very people that claim to be liberating the people of Iran are the same exact people that have cheered on a genocide in Gaza. These very people who claim to support women's rights have nothing to say about the tens of thousands of women and children murdered by Israel in Gaza, let alone those murdered by US-Israeli bombs in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Qatar. They also have nothing to say about the girls' elementary school that was targeted in Iran just yesterday, with the death toll currently over 150 and continuing to climb. The Greens have been consistent in our condemnation of the Iranian regime, the IRGC, and their violent oppression of Iranian people. But no-one has bombed their way to peace.

We are at a critical juncture in history. The rules based order has been blown to smithereens by the West's complicity in Israel's genocide on Gaza. But we must continue to seek justice, to seek liberation from oppression and to seek an end to state violence and to do so through diplomatic means. When we abandon diplomacy—when we ignore international law, when we say that one set of rules applies for some and not others—we can guarantee a path to death and destruction.

Slade Brockman (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question before the chair is that the amendment moved by Senator Shoebridge to Senator Wong's amendment be agreed to.

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

The question is that Senator Wong's amendment be agreed to.

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

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

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

I'm wondering if you could put subsection (a) separately, as we will be voting differently on the rest of the motion?

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

The question is that part (a) of Senator Cash's motion be agreed to.

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

The question is that paragraphs (b) through to (g) of the motion as moved by Senator Cash be agreed to.