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

This government represents the Australian community more completely than any government in this country's history. More than half of our government are women, and we have more First Nations members than any government that has preceded us. We have members of parliament from many different countries, with ancestries from many different cultures. We have members of many different faiths: Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hinduism. We are proud of how much we represent the richness and the diversity of the Australian community, and we are also deeply conscious of the responsibility this brings with it. We do not speak only to one part of the community, nor do we speak only for one part of the community. Ours is a pluralist nation, a nation that welcomes different races, different religions and different views, and we are united by our respect for each other's humanity and for each other's right to live in peace. We are united by respect for one another and our right to live as citizens in this free society.

We all need to acknowledge the trauma on all sides. We all need to respect each other's humanity and to come together as peacemakers have done throughout history. We all need to be peacemakers. We gain nothing by reproducing the conflict here, by talking past each other, by shouting each other down and by insisting on respective absolutes. It is not acceptable for anyone in this country to blame others in this country for the actions of others overseas. We stand against discrimination in all its forms. We stand against hate speech and prejudice. I stand against prejudice, discrimination and hate speech, and I always have. People might recall a bipartisan motion moved by former senator Cormann and me, which we drafted, calling out Fraser Anning for his appalling first speech where he referenced the 'final solution'. People might recall the Labor Party in opposition applauding former senator Brandis in response to an event in this chamber which was targeting the Muslim community and the Muslim faith. We have been consistent in our position against antisemitism, against all forms of hate speech and against Islamophobia.

Senator Birmingham talks about—and he is right to raise this—how people are feeling. I would refer back to what I said when we announced our vote in support of a two-state solution at the UN. I sought to address the Jewish community directly. I said:

Now I want to make some remarks directly to the Australian Jewish community. I understand that the Australian Jewish community are feeling distressed and isolated. I want to say, you are valued members of our community. You have a right to be safe. You have a right to feel safe. Anti-semitism has no place anywhere. I stand against it. We all must stand against it.

Similarly we have seen in this chamber and beyond the distress that so many Australians feel at what we are seeing in Gaza.

In respect of the issues that have been raised, our position is clear. We call for a humanitarian ceasefire, enabling the immediate release of hostages and humanitarian aid to flow. We call for the release of hostages. We have been clear about our objections to an Israeli ground offensive into Rafah. We have called for Israel to comply with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice, including to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale. We have been clear about our position on BDS. We do not support BDS. We've been clear about our position on weapons. Australia has not supplied weapons to Israel since this conflict began or in the last five years. But most of all we want to do what we can to break the cycle of violence. We want a two-state solution. The phrase 'From the river to the sea' is not consistent with a two-state solution. And it is that solution which is needed for the peace and security of Palestinians and Israelis alike.

Colleagues, Australia is not a central player in the Middle East, but we are a respected voice, and we use our voice to advocate for a humanitarian ceasefire, for the release of hostages and for a two-state solution, including by using our vote at the United Nations to add international momentum for a two-state solution. With that, I move:

That the question be now put.

Question agreed to.