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

My question is to the Prime Minister. When the Prime Minister condemned the violent 'river to the sea' chant, Labor Senator Fatima Payman publicly rebuked him and repeated it. Yesterday, Senator Payman crossed the floor to support the Greens' hate-filled campaign to ferment social divisions on Palestine, apparently without consequences. Prime Minister Bob Hawke, when he was leader of the Labor Party, suspended two members for such actions. Every leader since him has stood up and shown strength of leadership. Will the Prime Minister do the same?

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

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I note the regular tracks of members of the LNP to sit on the same side as the government at various times—something that they say is a positive.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order. The Minister for Home Affairs will cease interjecting.

The member for Barker is warned. The Prime Minister is going to be heard in silence.

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

I make this point: 'from the river to the sea' refers to the Jordan River and the Mediterranean. The problem with 'from the river to the sea' being one state, whether just Israel or just Palestine, is that it denies the existence of the other peoples and denies the need for a two-state solution, which is why I have consistently opposed it.

I have consistently supported two states—Palestine and Israel—living side by side in peace and security, and that is the Australian Labor Party's position, and I'm proud of it. I have consistently opposed the actions from day one of what occurred with the terrorist act on October 7. Hamas committed atrocities and need to be totally condemned. I have also expressed my grave concern at the humanitarian loss in Gaza, including our call for the ground invasion of Rafah to not occur. We warned of what the consequences of that would be. I regret the loss of all innocent life, whether it be Israeli or Palestinian. That is the principled position that I have taken. That is why I have—yesterday, the position that was put forward by Senator Wong in the Senate was a principled one: the need for the Senate to recognise the state of Palestine as a part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution and a just and enduring peace.

It's beyond me why the Greens political party or the Liberal Party or the National Party did not support that position. For the truth is that they did not. That is the appropriate position being put forward. I met with Senator Payman earlier today. She will not be attending the Labor caucus for the rest of this session.

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

Was that her decision or yours?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting.

The member for Hasluck.

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! Ministers will cease interjecting.

The Prime Minister is addressing the question directly. The Prime Minister is directly answering the question. He is mentioning the person you mentioned in your question. It is impossible to take a question on relevance. Resume your seat. Under the standing orders that is not—

I will refer to earlier decisions by Speaker Smith on exactly this issue regarding not taking points of order when the Speaker believes the Prime Minister or minister is being directly relevant. Resume your seat. The Prime Minister has the call.

Government members interjecting—

Members on my right!

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

What I do is show leadership through our united team. What he does is fail to provide any leadership, which is why the kiss of death is endorsed from this block. (Time expired)