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

My question is to Minister Wong. Minister, a new independent UN report has found Israel consistently, directly and intentionally targeted individual children across Gaza. It documents the use of torture and inhumane and degrading treatment, including sexual and gender based violence against Palestinian children—children, Minister! These were children used for target practice by Israeli soldiers—a 15-year-old killed while carrying a white flag, a 10-day-old baby shot in the head while being breastfed, a three-year-old shot dead in the arms of his father just last Sunday. More than 20,000 children—dead. It is a wonder that you can look parents in the eye while Australia trades parts and weapons with the perpetrators of these horrors. Minister, why won't the Albanese government end the arms trade and impose comprehensive sanctions on Israel, just like we do against Russia?

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

No child should be targeted. We condemn, Australia condemns, the targeting of children. We have consistently done so through this conflict and through other conflicts. We take these reports very seriously. We have consistently advocated for the rights and protection of children, including as a longstanding member of the Group of Friends on Children and Armed Conflict. Later today, we will speak, Australia will speak, at the United Nations Security Council in relation to the rising violence against children in situations of armed conflict.

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

Senator Faruqi, first supplementary?

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

On one side, you have the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and a host of other expert organisations and scholars the world over who have the courage to call this genocide what it is: genocide. On the other side, you have Trump, his far-right US government and its compliant allies like Australia's Labor government. Minister, why won't you admit that Israel is committing a genocide and call it what it is? Call it a genocide.

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

Firstly, in relation to the response to the question on the United Nations, I said in my primary answer that the UN Security Council will be discussing, later today, the rising violence against children in situations of armed conflict and that Australia will make a contribution in that debate. What I would also say is the Greens political party consistently seeks to misrepresent the government's position and actions. The government has spoken many times about Australia's view of what is happening—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

and what has happened in Gaza and in the West Bank. We have taken action, including the sanctioning of two senior ministers in the Netanyahu government for human rights abuses, in coordination with the United Kingdom, Canada and other partners.

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Faruqi—no, I haven't called you—and Senator Waters, Senator Faruqi asked her question with complete silence from the chamber. That same courtesy and respect will be shown to the minister. Senator Faruqi, second supplementary?

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

Minister, your government has continued trading arms with the genocidal Israeli regime. You've refused to sanction the perpetrators responsible for the deaths of more than 20,000 children. What absurd horrors are next? Can we expect to see you supporting the suggestion from One Nation and its owner, Gina Rinehart, to gift Israel chunks of Queensland to build these kid-killing weapons?

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

I remember Pauline Hanson saying this country was 'in danger of being swamped by Asians', and I will never support One Nation.