(i) the detrimental effect of the Israeli and Egyptian blockade in Gaza on the Palestinian people living in Gaza, and (ii) that Australia is a good friend of the Palestinian territories and its people.
Full speech
Senator XENOPHON (South Australia) (16:35): by leave—I indicate that I did not support the Greens’ motion not because it did not have merit, because I believe it does in relation to going back to the 1967 borders, but because it would have wiped out Senator Boswell’s motion which condemned the boycott, and I thought that motion in itself is worthy with appropriate amendment. I indicate to Senator Brown and to the Australian Greens that, if there is a stand-alone motion that is repeated on the Notice Paper in relation to the 1967 borders about the states of Palestine and Israel, I would certainly be happy to support it. I also seek leave to move that an additional paragraph be added to the motion.
Leave granted.
Senator XENOPHON: I move:
After paragraph (c), insert:(d) notes:
(i) the detrimental effect of the Israeli and Egyptian blockade in Gaza on the Palestinian people living in Gaza, and
(ii) that Australia is a good friend of the Palestinian territories and its people.
I seek leave to make a further one-minute explanation.
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute.
Senator XENOPHON: I will need less than that, Mr Deputy President. This amendment to the motion is identical to an amendment which was supported by the coalition that I made to a motion in the Senate on 11 May 2011 that was moved by, I believe, Senator Abetz in similar terms. I seek the support of my colleagues, particularly those in the coalition who previously supported the identical amendment.
Question put:
That the amendment (Senator Xenophon’s) be agreed to.
The Senate divided. [16:39]
(The Deputy PRESIDENT—Senator Parry)
Question negatived.