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

Senator Paterson, in answer to your question, I think the Prime Minister has responded to that on numerous occasions. I would refer you to that answer. I know that this is a very important investigation. I know that it is very important that, regardless of people's political positions, the police be empowered to do their job. What we want is for all those responsible to be identified, to be apprehended and to face the full force of the law. The approach we will take to this issue will be to observe the appropriate protocols, and we will continue to support the police in the job they are doing.

I would say that I understand why members of the Jewish community are feeling distressed and feeling unsafe, given what we have seen. I hope that the parliament today indicating its position together and the police continuing to pursue those who are responsible will be of some comfort. But the most important thing is for Australia as a community to come together and to show solidarity with the Jewish community but also to make clear how unacceptable this sort of hatred is anywhere and certainly on Australian streets.