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

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister Wong. Minister, your government was one of the first in the world to support Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu's war in the Middle East. Now that the awful consequences are becoming real for Australians, I have a simple question for you: do you still support this war?

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

One of the things that I think it might be useful to remind Senator Shoebridge and the Greens political party of is the actions of the Iranian regime, including the brutal massacring of its own people; the actions of the Iranian regime, including directing attacks on Australians here on Australian soil; the actions of the Iranian regime in sponsoring its proxies, including Hamas and Hezbollah; and the actions of the Iranian regime in sponsoring terrorism around the world. What we made very clear is our support for actions which were designed to prevent Iran from continuing to be a threat to peace and security internationally. I appreciate that you don't agree with that, Senator Shoebridge, but that is the basis of our position. We also made it very clear that we were not proposing to engage in strikes on Iran. I know that's a fact that the Greens political party seek to gloss over—

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

I have a point of order. My point of order is direct relevance. My question was simple, and the minister refuses to address it. Do you still support the war? Direct relevance.

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

Senator Shoebridge, the minister is being relevant to your question. I'll invite the minister to continue.

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

What we know is that you seek to generate—

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

Answers.

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

No, your outrage machine, actually. What you want is an outrage machine to campaign with. It doesn't suit you to talk about the thousands of people the regime has killed. It doesn't suit you to confirm that Australia has said we are only engaging in defensive action. It doesn't suit you to remember that there are tens of thousands of Australians that we are defending as a consequence of the deployment of ADF personnel in the Middle East. You just want to yell at me because these are inconvenient facts.

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

Resume your seat, please, Minister Wong. Senator Green?

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Interjections are disorderly. I cannot hear what the minister is saying.

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

I have asked for order. I called you, Senator Shoebridge, and I called you, Senator Allman-Payne. I expect there to be silence.

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

Senator Shoebridge doesn't like the answers because— (Time expired)

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

Senator Shoebridge, first supplementary?

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

Minister, as part of this war, the Israeli government have said they want to turn southern Lebanon into another Gaza. There are hundreds of thousands of Lebanese Australians who are watching their loved ones be displaced and their country be destroyed. Will you oppose this latest Israeli invasion of Lebanon?

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

If I can just finish my previous answer—

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

No.

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

Actually, it's not up to you, Senator Shoebridge. I know you like to tell everyone what to do in this place.

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

I have a point of order, which is that the minister is required to be relevant to the question she's been asked. She can't choose her own adventure. The relevance is to the question the minister has just been asked.

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

Senator Shoebridge, to be fair, the interjections started the minute the minister stood. She has not begun to address the question. I will invite Minister Wong to continue.

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

I will get to that, if I could finish my answer without interruption. I give you a commitment I will get to the response on that.

Penny Allman-Payne (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're just making it up!

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

Senator Allman-Payne, I indicated to you yesterday that I will name you. I've had to call you and call you and call you. You are being absolutely disrespectful to me and this chamber, and I will name you if you won't be quiet. Minister Wong, please continue.

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

The point I was making is that Senator Shoebridge and the Greens political party don't like the answer because the facts don't suit the Greens' outrage machine. They don't suit your outrage machine. The fact that they happen to be the truth is an inconvenient fact for you.

In relation to Lebanon, I have been very clear that we are gravely concerned about the expansion of the conflict into Lebanon. We are deeply concerned about the loss of life and the displacement of more than a million citizens, including over 200,000 children. We have announced a further $5 million in humanitarian assistance to support civilians in Lebanon. We have said a major Israeli ground offensive will only exacerbate the worsening—

I'm answering your question. (Time expired)

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

Senator Shoebridge, a second supplementary?

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

Minister, every day this war and chaos continues, the lives of people here in Australia and across the world get worse. Why is Australia not urgently joining with other middle powers to help end this illegal war by refusing to support any part of US war fighting? Withdraw support from this illegal war from the US and Israel.

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

Senator, what I was going to say, which you interrupted and which was a direct response to your question, was that a major Israeli ground offensive into Lebanon will only exacerbate the worsening humanitarian situation in the country. I've said that on multiple occasions, and that is Australia's position.

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

I have a point of order.

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

The minister's finished her response, Senator Shoebridge. Senator Shoebridge, resume your seat, please. Senator Shoebridge, the minister has concluded her answer.

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

She refused to even address the question—didn't even pretend—

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

Senator Shoebridge, come to order or I will name you! You are being disrespectful.