One of the Islamic republic proxies in Iraq is Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, led by US-designated terrorist Qais al-Khazali, which, you might recall, we had a conversation about at the last estimates, when I asked DFAT about a meeting in February this year between Australia’s Ambassador to Iraq and Qais al-Khazali. Is DFAT aware that, following the Hamas terror attacks on Israel, Qais al-Khazali called the head of Hamas and offered Hamas support for its attacks on Israel, including offering to provide fighters to assist Hamas?
CHAIR: Yes, she does. I’ll hand the call to Senator Chandler and then to Senator Faruqi, and then I understand that officials need to head off at about 20 past. Senator Chandler, you have the call.
Senator CHANDLER: I’ll take the conversation beyond just Israel to the broader Middle East implications. We know that Iran-backed militias supported by the IRGC have launched at least 10 separate drone and rocket attacks on US bases in recent days, injuring at least 30 US personnel. We heard from Defence yesterday at this committee that there are Australians in Iraq on deployment with the coalition forces that those IRGC-backed groups have been targeting. In this forum, does DFAT have any concerns that Australian diplomatic staff in Iraq, in Iran or in Lebanon could be caught up in attempts by those groups to target the West?
Mr Maclachlan : The safety and security of our personnel, as you heard from the secretary this morning, is foremost in our minds.
Senator CHANDLER: What diplomatic action has the Australian government taken in response to these attacks on the US and coalition against ISIS forces, which have been, as I said, attributed by the Pentagon as being undertaken by groups backed by the IR regime, if any?
Mr Maclachlan : We have conveyed through Mr Jadwat’s engagement with the Iranian delegation here and more broadly. I’m trying to encourage supporters of Hamas and Hezbollah to undertake no action, to moderate their view, to avoid circumstances which might spread the violence to other parts of the region.
Senator CHANDLER: I have a question for Mr Jadwat on that in a moment. What role does the government believe the IRGC has played in supporting Hamas in its attacks on Israel and in coordinating with proxies across the region to threaten escalation in the conflict?
Mr Maclachlan : I don’t think I’d go into detail on that in a public forum.
Senator CHANDLER: Mr Jadwat, you mentioned earlier that there was a call between the foreign minister and Iran, I believe.
Mr Jadwat : Yes.
Senator CHANDLER: What was the date of that call?
Mr Jadwat : I think I may have provided the date, but I’ve got it here. It was on 23 October.
Senator CHANDLER: Which official was the call with?
Senator Wong: It was the Prime Minister.
Senator CHANDLER: Minister, what was the message from the Australian side?
Senator Wong: Our message to Iran is consistent with our public messages in relation to this conflict—in relation to hostages, humanitarian access, the need to not have escalation, including via the vectors that you describe and others, and to express our views about these matters.
Senator CHANDLER: What was the position expressed by the side of Iran?
Senator Wong: They have very different views to Australia.
Senator CHANDLER: Imagine my shock!
Senator Wong: But, as you know, we maintain diplomatic relations with Iran and other countries. We don’t equate diplomatic relations between Australia and a country as support for that country’s views. It is an avenue for our interests, not for theirs. You would also know that we do maintain a diplomatic relationship; some of our other partners do not.
Senator CHANDLER: One of the Islamic republic proxies in Iraq is Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, led by US-designated terrorist Qais al-Khazali, which, you might recall, we had a conversation about at the last estimates, when I asked DFAT about a meeting in February this year between Australia’s Ambassador to Iraq and Qais al-Khazali. Is DFAT aware that, following the Hamas terror attacks on Israel, Qais al-Khazali called the head of Hamas and offered Hamas support for its attacks on Israel, including offering to provide fighters to assist Hamas?
Mr Jadwat : I’m not aware of that, but we can follow up through our embassy in Baghdad, of course.
Senator CHANDLER: I would appreciate that. It was on Qais al-Khazali’s X, or Twitter, page, so that is public-source documentation. An umbrella group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility for the series of rocket and drone attacks against US bases in Iraq and Syria that I mentioned earlier. This group is understood to be a collective of Iran-backed terrorist groups and militias in Iraq. Does the government consider Qais al-Khazali’s Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq to be one of Iran’s terrorist proxies?
Mr Jadwat : I’m not in a position to designate which groups can be classified as terrorist groups. That’s something the Attorney-General’s Department does. But, of course, we monitor the situation very carefully. We’re in regular touch with our embassy in Baghdad, and I can undertake to speak to our ambassador to make sure that we’re fully aware of any links that they’ve had in relation to this Hamas—
Senator Wong: Can I answer it at this level? I think Australia knows well that Iran has long played a destabilising role in this region and has a great deal of influence in the region.
Senator CHANDLER: I don’t expect the department to be constantly monitoring what is going on on social media—
Senator Wong: I try not to follow known terrorists on Twitter.
Senator CHANDLER: Indeed. But, on another, more serious issue, is DFAT aware that the Iranian embassy in Australia has been posting some pretty alarming anti-Israel and pro-Hamas content to their social media page?
Mr Jadwat : I haven’t been monitoring the Iranian embassy’s website, but I have had regular discussions with the Iranian ambassador to make it very clear what our position is in relation to this conflict, including in relation to what Iran does and how Iran should stay out of it. I’ll leave it at that.
Senator CHANDLER: There are reports today, citing people familiar with intelligence, that 500 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists underwent specialised combat training in Iran weeks before the attacks of 7 October. I would welcome any comment that the government is able to make on those reports, if you’re in a position to do so in this forum. But, specifically, I’m interested to know whether we’re aware of any previous instances of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist training in Iran?
Mr Jadwat : We’re not in a position to comment.
Senator Wong: I will again say what I said before: Both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are listed. We have counterfinancing sanctions against them. It is an offence also for any Australian to acquire funds for, from or to Hamas and PAJ.
CHAIR: Thanks, Minister.