Mehreen Faruqi NSW, Australian Greens
2:33 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. On Eid morning, Prime Minister Albanese and Minister Burke attended Lakemba Mosque during Eid prayers. Muslims, understandably, expressed their frustration and anger at the Labor government's complicity in and inaction on Isreal's genocide in Gaza. Instead of acknowledging these sentiments, the Prime Minister left the mosque in a rush, ignored community criticism and misled the media about why people were confronting him. On the religious festival of Eid, the Prime Minister indulged in far-right talking points to delegitimise people angry about his presence in the mosque and Labor's complicity in the genocide, linking them with extremism. Minister, why did the Prime Minister lie and mislead the media?
Sue Lines President
Senator Faruqi, that's out of order. Withdraw, please.
Mehreen Faruqi NSW, Australian Greens
Why did the Prime Minister mislead the media?
Sue Lines President
Senator, I appreciate that you've rephrased the question—thank you for doing that—but you also need to withdraw.
Sue Lines President
I remind senators that, even if you have a different point of view, you are to listen in silence.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
2:34 pm
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the question. First, Australians are understandably distressed by the violence, death, displacement in the Middle East, but we on this side of the chamber believe that we gain nothing by shouting each other down. We gain nothing by turning up the temperature, as that question sought to. We gain nothing, as a pluralist nation, for—
Again, there is an outrage machine that the Greens engage in because they want to raise the temperature. You want to raise the temperature because you see political benefit in raising the temperature. We on this side want to do all that we can, in a pluralist Australia, to enable people to come together, and for people who disagree with each other to be able to engage respectfully. That is what we seek to do, and that was what the Prime Minister was seeking to do.
It wasn't a visit by the Prime Minister for Eid; it was a visit at the invitation of the community. It was a visit that was welcomed by many in the community. And, yes, there were people who had different views. But overwhelmingly, it is a good thing for the Prime Minister of the country—
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
I ask that Senator Faruqi withdraw that. She's had to do it once already.
Sue Lines President
I didn't hear the comment, and I'm assuming it was Senator Shoebridge. Just a moment, Senator Shoebridge.
Sue Lines President
Please resume your seat. Senator Ayres, I heard your point of order but I didn't hear the senator.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
Well, I don't want to repeat what Senator Faruqi said.
Sue Lines President
No; I'm not asking you to repeat it. Just name the senator.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
Sue Lines President
Apologies, Senator Shoebridge. I had called you to order a few minutes before Senator Ayres jumped up, which is why I assumed it was you. I apologise for that. Senator Faruqi, withdraw the comment.
Mehreen Faruqi NSW, Australian Greens
My God, you just don't want people to tell the truth.
Sue Lines President
Senator Ayres, please resume your seat. Thank you, Senator Faruqi, and I will remind you, when I ask you to withdraw, a simple withdrawal and no other comment is what I require. I appreciate that you have now done that. Minister Wong.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
As I said, the Prime Minister was invited to the mosque for Eid. That is a good thing. It is a good thing to engage with the community, even if sometimes the conversations are difficult.
Mehreen Faruqi NSW, Australian Greens
2:37 pm
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination commemorates the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa, where 69 anti-apartheid protesters were killed by police. Six decades on, it is hard to escape the reality here in Australia of police crackdowns, arrests and silencing of protesters standing against Israel's genocide and apartheid. Minister, when will the government realise that assaulting, demonising and repressing anti-genocide, anti-apartheid protesters is racism?
Sue Lines President
Just a moment. Senator Faruqi, as you have seen I have sought the advice of the Clerk. Your first question was very specific to a particular incident. You have now broadened that out to go further than that. It's not well-related to your first question, but I will invite the minister to answer it in whatever way she thinks fit. Senator Waters?
Larissa Waters Queensland, Australian Greens
A point of order, President. I just refer to the fact that the minister was asked in her capacity as representing the Prime Minister, and so the scope is broad.
Sue Lines President
Thank you, Senator Waters, and you may have missed the point. I have sought the advice of the Clerk and I have taken the advice of the Clerk, which is the generally accepted standard in this chamber. It's certainly the standard I adhere to. I have invited the minister to respond in whatever way she thinks fits the question. Minister Wong.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
2:39 pm
There are a number of aspects of that question. I think where I would like to start is where I started with my primary, which is that there is understandable distress in our country by what has occurred in Gaza—the violence, death and displacement in the Middle East. I again say we are a country, a pluralist nation, which has welcomed different races, different religions and views. We should be united by respect for each other's humanity and for each other's right to live in peace.
You expect respect, but you don't show me any. You demand it. I'm trying to answer the question, alright?
Penny Allman-Payne Queensland, Australian Greens
I'm not asking for respect; I'm asking—
Sue Lines President
Senator Allman-Payne, come to order! I've called you to order three times. You are being disrespectful to me and this chamber. You will listen in silence, or you can leave the chamber.
Senator Allman-Payne, you are not in a debate with me.
Senator Allman-Payne, I will name you. You are not in a debate with me. You are to listen in silence. That is my order.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
We on this side will always try to bring people together. We do not believe seeking to make people angrier is responsible. (Time expired)
Mehreen Faruqi NSW, Australian Greens
2:41 pm
The government might try and delink genocide and racism as much as they like, but that is a fact. These questions are about genocide and racism, so they are not out of order. The Prime Minister's social media post acknowledging the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination does not even say the word 'racism'. If you cannot name it, you cannot tackle it. Every day, racism rears its ugly head, and still this government refuses to take action to tackle systemic, institutional, structural racism.
Sue Lines President
Thank you, Senator Faruqi. The time for asking your question has expired.
Mehreen Faruqi NSW, Australian Greens
When will the Prime Minister fund—
Sue Lines President
Senator Faruqi, I called you to order because your time had expired. I expect you to respect my authority in this chamber.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
2:42 pm
The Australian Labor Party will always stand against racism. We do every day, and we always will.
Sue Lines President
Senator Faruqi, come to order! You've asked the question. It's my role as President to maintain order in this chamber. When I ask you to come to order, I expect you to come to order. Senator Wong has completed her answer.