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

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister Wong. Minister, your government has been complicit in Israel's genocide in Gaza. Now not only have you backed the illegal Israel/US led war but you have taken us to war. Trump and Netanyahu are bombing civilian infrastructure—apartment blocks, hospitals and schools—and killing children, women and men in Iran and Lebanon. At the same time, Israel intensifies its war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel is killing civilians in Palestine, Lebanon and Iran at the same time. The Prime Minister said last year:

The position of the Australian Government is clear: every innocent life matters.

Yet you continue to support Israel and cheerlead Trump's bombing campaign, which has killed close to 2,000 civilians just in the last two weeks. Was the Prime Minister's statement just hollow words?

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

Yet again, the Greens political party engages in misinformation in that question. What I would say is that we do call on all parties to observe international humanitarian law. We do recognise the awful images we are seeing. We do understand, and have consistently called for, the importance of the observance of international law, including the observance of the Geneva convention. The approach of the Greens political party is one that relies on misinformation, assertions which are incorrect, because they see benefit in raising the heat. They see benefit in raising the heat and in promoting anger.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Waters, I am waiting for order, particularly from those behind you. Senator Waters.

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

Point of order: I'd like the minister to withdraw that. It is false and it is a distraction from the actual question which was asked.

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

That is a debating point. Minister Watt?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order: anyone who listened to Senator Faruqi's question will have heard that it was fully laden with imputations. The Greens—

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

That is also not a point of order. I've indicated to Senator Waters that was not a point of order. Minister Wong.

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

I invite any reasonable observer to look at the way in which the Greens political party have approached this conflict or others. With the information that they put forward, which is misinformation, and the falsehoods that are asserted, including in that question, I think most reasonable Australians would say that the Greens political party's agenda is about raising the heat.

We on this side do not believe that seeking to make people angry is good for our country. We do not believe that trying to exploit the concerns of compassionate Australians is the decent thing to do.

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

Senator Faruqi, first supplementary?

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

As Israel has expanded its attacks in the region, it has intensified the blockade of Gaza, closing crossings, severely throttling the flow of aid and halting the desperately needed evacuation of patients and wounded people, and this follows the deregistration of almost 37 aid organisations. Minister, what actions have you taken to get aid back into Gaza, or are you just too busy warmongering?

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

Senator Faruqi, withdraw the last comment.

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

I withdraw.

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

Minister Wong.

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

What I described in an answer to the first question was demonstrated by that question. I will go now to the peace plan. One of the discussions—

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

What peace plan?

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

You see, this is the difficulty. Senator Faruqi on the one hand asks us what we are doing to promote the peace plan but then—

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

I'm sorry, Minister Wong; please resume your seat. Senator Whish-Wilson, come to order!

Senator McKim, you are being disrespectful to me. I've asked for order. Minister Wong, please continue.

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

Senator Faruqi is asking about the implementation of the peace plan in Gaza, at the same time as she is criticising it. That's a matter for her. In fact, one of the discussions I had today with the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia was in part focused on the fact that there was insufficient progress on the peace plan in relation to Gaza. For the reasons we understand, the region is very focused on a conflict that has now brought in almost a dozen nations, and the importance of ensuring aid flows— (Time expired)

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

Senator Faruqi, second supplementary?

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

Given your government's failure to pressure Israel to end the blockade, brave Australians are risking their lives again by joining the Global Sumud Flotilla to deliver aid to Gaza. Previously, Australians on the flotilla were kidnapped in international waters and then abused, tortured, punched, spat on and denied medication and access to a lawyer. Will you this time around commit to full diplomatic and consular support for courageous Australians joining the flotilla mission?

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

Again, we will provide consular support to Australians wherever we can, and our position is that humanitarian aid should flow at scale into Gaza.