Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister explain why his government has taken a decision to unilaterally determine where Israel's borders lie? Does the Prime Minister think it was appropriate for him to hang one of Australia's closest Middle East security partners out to dry as part of a backroom deal to avoid an embarrassing factional fight over AUKUS at Labor's national conference?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There has been no unilateral action by my government. My government is a strong supporter of Israel and its right to exist within secure borders. We also support a two-state solution that includes a Palestinian state. We believe that it is in the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians to have a settlement to what has been a substantial dispute in the Middle East that has had implications not just for the region but for the world. My government will continue to engage constructively on these issues. My government has the same position as the Conservative government led by Rishi Sunak, as European governments and as Australian governments historically have had, as well. We regard a two-state solution as being essential. We think that it is in the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians for there not to be actions by either side that undermine the potential of the achievement of that two-state solution.