Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Farrell. In January this year UNWRA sacked multiple staff members for alleged involvement in the horrific 7 October terrorist attacks, and funding for UNWRA was paused on the basis that alleged involvement by its staff in those attacks must be investigated. I note that these investigations continue and have not yet concluded. Will the government release the advice it received which underpinned its decision to reinstate funding to UNWRA ahead of the conclusion of investigations? Can the minister outline what verifiable undertakings have been secured to guarantee Australia taxpayer dollars are reaching those in genuine need and are in no way accessed by extremists or by terrorists?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for her question. I also welcome the Filipinos here today. Como esta?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's the extent of my Filipino, after 40 years of marriage. I'm sorry about that! We want to ensure that all aid that we provide as a government to any organisation in any country gets to the people it's intended to get to. We are strongly of the belief that that is the case with these contributions. As you rightly say, we did suspend the forwarding of aid to UNRWA when issues were raised, particularly about the people who were working in that organisation. Australia has contributed, I think it's a total of $52.5 million in humanitarian assistance in Gaza since the terrible crisis—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Chandler on a point of order?

Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order on relevance. I asked about whether the government would release the advice it relied upon to reinstate funding to UNRWA, and I asked the minister to outline what undertakings had been taken before the funding was rereleased. I don't think the minister has gone anywhere near those questions.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Chandler. There was an awful lot in your question and I have been listening very carefully to the minister. The minister is being relevant to your question.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The allegations against UNRWA were obviously serious. They were grave. They warranted immediate and appropriate response. And as you may have seen, Senator, a number of countries, including Australia, have now taken the decision to resume humanitarian contributions in Gaza.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Chandler, first supplementary question?

Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaking of other countries, did the minister or other government representatives consult with the United States prior to announcing the resumption of funding to UNRWA?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, Senator, we make our own decisions about who we make humanitarian grants to. We obviously have a very close relationship with the United States, but we also have close relations with Canada, New Zealand and a range of other countries, including the European Union. All of those other countries—

Well, I haven't given up on the EU Free Trade Agreement, Senator Birmingham, yet. We haven't given up on that.

Senator McKenzie, we make our own decisions about who we give humanitarian aid to. As I mentioned before— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Chandler, second supplementary.

Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why is the Albanese Labor government acting in opposition to the United States, our most trusted international partner, who await the outcomes of the investigation into UNRWA and in the interim is pursuing alternative means of delivering more humanitarian assistance?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I take issue with your first statement. I'm not sure that the United States is our most trusted ally. I would have said New Zealand, in the whole history of time—I would have said our closest international ally is New Zealand.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. I'm going to wait for order before calling the minister again. Minister Farrell.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are very close to the United States—I freely concede that—and we'll continue to work closely with the United States on a range of international issues. (Time expired)

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is of the minister representing Minister Wong. Under intense pressure from the community and the Greens, the Labor government has been forced to reverse its disgraceful suspension of UNRWA funding. It is clear that funding was suspended by Minister Wong without any evidence and that this compounded starvation and suffering for Palestinians. Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and others have said that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war. At least 23 children in northern Gaza have died from malnutrition and dehydration—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Faruqi, I'm sorry; please resume your seat. Senator Faruqi has the absolute right to ask her question in silence—from both sides of the chamber.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and others have said that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war. At least 23 children in northern Gaza have died from malnutrition and dehydration in recent weeks, adding to the over 13,000 already killed by Israel. In a world where Palestinians' lives mattered to the Labor Party, it would be an absolute political scandal for a sitting minister—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Faruqi, your time has expired. Minister Farrell.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They were shouting. Will you admit—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, resume your seat. Your question was extremely long and, regardless of interjections, I doubt you would have got to the end of it. You are not in a debate with me. I've asked you to resume your seat and not continue with such disorderly conduct as to keep reading the question. I've called the minister.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Faruqi for her question. Of course the Labor Party doesn't want to see anybody starving, and that's the case in respect of Gaza. That is why Australia has committed $52.5 million in humanitarian aid, and it is why Australia has resumed its contribution towards UNRWA and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance where it's needed in Gaza.

The circumstances in Gaza are terrible; we all know that—the loss of life. We are making—

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why did you stop the funding?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Do you want to hear the answer? We stopped because there was good reason to make the decision to review the contribution, based on evidence that had been provided.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was no evidence.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With respect, Senator McKim, there was evidence that resulted in this government making the sensible decision to review. But we have resumed the contribution, so I do find it very difficult to understand the point that you're making, Senator Faruqi, when we have restarted the contribution and, as I said, when that contribution totals $52.5 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, first supplementary?

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The ICJ ordered Israel to take immediate steps to allow aid in, and the UN has repeatedly asked the world to act and for Israel to allow aid into all parts of Gaza. Minister Wong has said that she is imploring Israel to allow more aid. Beyond mere weak words, Minister, what actions has the Labor government taken to force the Israeli government to stop blocking aid? And will you admit your gross mistake in suspending UNWRA funding and apologise for it at least?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, Senator Faruqi, I won't apologise. We took the appropriate action in the circumstances to review our humanitarian contribution to UNRWA, based on the evidence that had been provided. We have now resumed those payments and we have done that, as I've said before, with a range of other countries, including New Zealand, Canada and the European Union. We have made the right decisions all the way along the line here, Senator Faruqi. You may not like it, but all of those decisions have been made by the government and have been the correct decisions. And we will continue to make the correct decisions, and that includes seeking discussions with the Israeli government on— (Time expired)

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Israel is intent on a ground invasion of Rafah. After forcibly displacing Palestinians in Gaza to Rafah, having murdered over 31,000 Palestinians, Israel is now starving children to death and their genocide is leading to mass hunger and famine. Yet the Labor government continues to support Israel's genocide in Gaza. Minister, when will the Labor government stop supporting and arming Israel?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Faruqi. Minister Farrell, I reminder you to address your answers to the Chair.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. And I thank Senator Faruqi for her second supplementary question.

It is as if the terrorists from Hamas in October last year didn't exist, based on your question, Senator Faruqi. What you have to understand is that almost 1,300 innocent men, women and children on the southern border of Israel were massacred in a terrorist assault by Hamas. The government took the decision that the Israeli government had—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator McKenzie, when I call order, it applies to you. Interjections between you and Senator Rice across the chamber are incredibly disorderly. I am asking all senators not to interject. Minister Farrell.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. As I said, it is as if those events did not occur. The Australian government took the correct decision that the— (Time expired)