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

That's actually my view. What I outlined yesterday to Senator Fawcett—and I appreciate Senator Fawcett would have different views about some of the issues—is the set of positions that we have ensured. The government has international fora, and domestically, which are consistent with that principle.

The government was also deeply concerned—and I would hope that all in this place would be—about the alarming trends we have seen in the Middle East in recent times. I would make the point that these trends are significantly reducing the prospects of peace. We are seeing escalating violence and the loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives, civilian lives. The UN reports that more Israeli and Palestinian civilians have died as a result of violence in the West Bank this year than in any full year over the last decade. NGOs also report—and this is relevant—that more settlement units have been advanced in the first half of this year than in any full year in the last decade. I would've hoped that Senator Birmingham and the opposition would share our concerns that have been expressed about changes to the judicial system and to the planning regime which would enable further settlements. So I make those points. That is the context and those of the overriding principles of how we approach these issues.

Senator Birmingham also said this is inconsistent with longstanding Australian policy. That is simply incorrect. If you look at policy as articulated by previous governments—until, most recently, partway through the last government—our position is consistent. (Time expired)