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

by leave—Can I indicate, as the Prime Minister has in the House, that on behalf of the government we support the actions taken by the Speaker and by you, President. What occurred at Parliament House today was not appropriate, and those responsible should feel the full force of the law. Peaceful protest does have an important place in our society. I think there are many who would question whether this was a peaceful protest. Their actions have done nothing to advance the cause of peace.

As all are aware, the security of Parliament House is the responsibility of the presiding officers and we support them and the actions they are taking. I understand, from advice from the Attorney-General, that four arrests have been made, and obviously that is a matter for law enforcement.

I'd make a broader point about social cohesion. There is a tragic, horrific conflict occurring. We have seen loss of lives at scale, and people in Australia on all sides are deeply distressed by this. Those of us in this place do have an obligation to remember, first and foremost, that one of the precious aspects of our democracy and one of the prerequisites of our democracy is our capacity to peacefully disagree.