Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the chamber. Labor is denying formality on this motion for the reasons outlined in my statement to the Senate on 25 March this year. The Australian Labor Party believes that complex or contested matters of foreign policy should not be dealt with in summary fashion by this chamber and nor, in the absence of extraordinary circumstance, do we support the suspension of standing orders to bring on immediate debate. Senator Milne in her contribution, conflates two issues. One is the substantive issue and the second is the capacity of the Senate to resolve these matters. I do not think even the most ambitious of senators would suggest that a motion dealt with in summary fashion will resolve a foreign policy matter such as the one which is the substance of this motion.

I would emphasise that there is much in this motion which reflects the position of the Australian Labor Party on Palestine and the occupied territories including occupied east Jerusalem. Indeed, much of the motion is consistent with what used to be the bipartisan consensus in this country. Labor remains committed to supporting and enduring and just two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The term 'occupied territories', including in relation to occupied east Jerusalem, is accepted in the international community. The United Nations General Assembly has, in many of its resolutions, used the same language. Freelancing on foreign policy has serious consequences. Senator Brandis's actions have isolated Australia from the international community and are another foreign policy embarrassment the Abbott government.