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

Thank you to Senator Rice for her question. What I would say to Senator Rice is that I hear, from how she asked the question, how important this is to her. It's a serious question, and I sought in my first answer to set out the many issues which have to be considered in the context of this humanitarian crisis in the aftermath of the heinous 7 October attacks.

The senator would know from what I've said in this place that we have made a number of points, and I released a statement with the foreign minister of France, when she visited this week, which went through some of those principles that I outlined in the answer earlier. We have called for Israel to respect international humanitarian law, we have called for civilians to be protected—and civilian infrastructure—and we have called for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to be increased. We have also said that the number of civilian deaths, including of children, has been harrowing and it cannot continue. We have said we want to see the pause resumed and that Australia supports international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire, and that we recognise this cannot be one-sided.

I appreciate that this may not be as far as some might want. It is further than others might want. This is a situation which has been very difficult for the Australian community, and I again urge all senators—and I appreciate Senator Rice did—to ensure their— (Time expired)