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

I appreciate Senator Ciccone asking me this question, because it gives me the opportunity to yet again speak to the Iranian Australian community. The government is deeply concerned by reports of families and protestors being harassed and intimidated. We have put our views about foreign interference directly to the Iranian regime in no uncertain terms. The Department of Home Affairs's Counter Foreign Interference Coordination Centre is working with the community to conduct targeted engagement of foreign interference.

I say this: Australia's foreign interference laws are unequivocal. Allegations of foreign interference are investigated and, if substantiated, will be prosecuted. I say to the Iranian community here in Australia: you have a right to protest. You have a right to fully participate in our democracy. We stand with you, and we will defend our democracy and people's right to protest and express their views within Australia, just as we stand up for the rights of those who do so around the world.