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

My question is to Senator Wong. Tomorrow will mark two years since the slaughter of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and her six colleagues by Israel. This was no tragic mistake. The clearly marked aid convoy was struck three separate times until they were all killed. Two years on, no-one has been held accountable. Instead of justice, your government has offered platitudes and the inadequate Binskin report. Minister, you could have referred the matter to the ICC, pushed for an international investigation, demanded the release of evidence, imposed consequences or insisted that those responsible be charged. At the very least, you could have honoured Zomi's family's wishes and demanded that Israel give a public apology and compensation to recognise her life and support other aid workers. Beyond quietly raising the issue, what concrete action have you taken to secure justice for Zomi Frankcom?

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

The death of Zomi Frankcom and her six WCK—World Central Kitchen—colleagues should not have occurred. I have said that clearly many times on behalf of our country to Israel and to the international community. Her tireless work to improve the lives of others should never have cost her life. We have made clear on more than one occasion our expectation that there should be transparency about Israel's ongoing investigation. We continue to press for full accountability, including any appropriate criminal charges. Most recently, the Prime Minister and I personally raised this matter with President Herzog, and we will continue to advocate on the family's behalf.

At the UN General Assembly last year, we honoured the life of Zomi Frankcom by launching the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, and I thank her brother for being with us on that day. Australia brought together more than a hundred countries to commit to real protections for the people risking their lives to save others. This is about bringing the world together to protect people who risk everything to save innocent lives in war zones. I might make a comment. I don't know if I'm going to be asked this, but I saw some comments in relation to the audio recording. I want to make it very clear to the chamber that we have made representations during and since the Binskin report to Israel on this matter on behalf of the family. We will continue to engage and consult Ms Frankcom's family on their requests.

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

Before I ask my next question, I want to give a shout-out to the brave humans Jayden, Ethan, Zack and Anny, who are soon going to be joining the Global Sumud Flotilla. Minister, when an Australian aid worker is murdered—and it is murder; it's not just death in a vacuum—by a genocidal state and your government refuses to take any meaningful action beyond representations, isn't your rhetoric about protecting aid workers completely hollow?

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

No.

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

Minister, aid workers put their lives on the line in the world's most dangerous places. They represent the very best in Australia. Why should any Australian aid worker trust that this government will protect them when, after two years, you have failed to deliver even the most basic accountability for the killing of one of our own?

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

The phrase 'aid workers are the best of us' is one I have used on a number of occasions. It's one that I used when we, with 100 other countries—and I know you seek to dismiss that, but this is how you work for change: you build coalitions across countries. I know that's not your style. That's not how you—

You like to just yell at people—

but we actually engage with other countries and with the ICRC on this. I again say that the Geneva conventions and international humanitarian law remain central to how Australia seeks to engage with the world and central to the world that Australia advocates for. In the shadow of the worst war the world has known, the international community came together to establish principles of humanitarian law, and we will always seek to defend them. (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Senator Faruqi, you were heard in complete silence, and that respect needs to be shown to any minister that's answering a question. Senator Allman-Payne, not only are you out of order but I believe you are completely out of order, because that is not your seat, according to my seating plan.