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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Wong. Is Australia at war?

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

What I have made clear publicly when I have been asked that is that we are engaged in collective self-defence. The reason we are doing that is that we know that the gulf countries have been the subject of attacks from Iran. They are countries that have not participated in strikes against Iran, but have themselves been attacked with a barrage of missiles and drones, including civilian targets, civilian infrastructure and areas where Australians are present. From the government's perspective, our obligation, our first priority, is to do all we can to keep people safe. That is why we announced that deployment yesterday. The purpose of that deployment is to help the UAE and other gulf nations defend themselves and, in doing so, also help the Australians who are resident—

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

President, I raise a point of order on relevance. Are we at war?

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

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

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

I responded by being clear that we are engaged in collective self-defence with the gulf nations, and I explained why that is in our national interest and why civilians are at risk. We are working to protect civilians. I do find it passing strange. The Greens political party are entitled to be pacifists, but you do not seem to be concerned about civilian lives in gulf states, including Australians. We are not taking offensive action against—

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

President, I raise a point of order on relevance. The question was very direct, and we ask the minister to answer it.

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

Senator Hanson-Young, Senator Waters stood on a point of order on exactly the same matter. The minister is being relevant. I will answer your point of order in the same way. The minister is being relevant. Senator Ayres?

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

Just on that point of order, the question purports to be a serious question—

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

Senator Ayres, I have ruled on the point of order. Please resume your seat. Minister Wong, did you wish to continue?

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

Yes, thank you. What the government have made clear is that we are not taking offensive action against Iran and we are not deploying Australian troops on the ground in Iran. We are taking defensive actions to support our partners' efforts to keep Australians safe. (Time expired)

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

Senator Waters, first supplementary?

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

Last night on 7.30, the Minister for Defence confirmed that the US have requested that Australia deploy missiles, aircraft and personnel. How and when was that US request made, and why are we bowing to Donald Trump's demands?

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

This is about the safety of Australians.

I will come to that, but you also made a political assertion at the end of your question and I need to rebut that. This is about the safety of Australians. We know, as Dr Thafer from the Gulf International Forum said on Radio National today, the UAE has faced more missile and drone attacks than Israel. We have people in the UAE, so it is our obligation to help them.

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 will come to that. I'm responding to the second part. If you stop interjecting, I might get to that. (Time expired)

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

Senator Waters, second supplementary?

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

I note that was not answered at all. You are claiming that you're deploying troops to assist Australians, but you've taken no action for the thousands of Australians being attacked by Israeli bombs in Lebanon. Why the double standard? Are you waiting for Trump to tell you what to do here as well?

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

Senator Waters, I'll say, before I call the minister, I do want to hear her answers. I have asked on several occasions for all of you to come to order. That is what I expect.

Senator Shoebridge, you are not in a debate with me. Come to order!

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

We act in Australia's national interests. That is what our government does. You have heard me, each day, outline the rationale for decisions that the government has taken. We act in Australia's interests. We responded to a request. I made clear that there have been a number of requests. We also have made clear that the request to which the government is responding is a written request from the United Arab Emirates, who are under attack not because they have partaken in action against Iran but because Iran is seeking to increase the cost of conflict, attacking civilians and—

Senator, you may not consider that a problem; we do. We think attacks on civilians in the Middle East who are not part of combatant nations—

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

Order, Senator Allman-Payne!

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

and attacks in locations where there are many Australians—

You had an opportunity today to have a debate. Do you want me to answer the question, Senator Allman-Payne—because I'm trying to, but you're shouting at me. (Time expired)