Firstly, and perhaps the minister’s best placed to answer this, I have a question around the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian representative here in Australia, Mr Abdulhadi, has said that the Palestinian Authority wants Australia’s support in carrying out reforms. Is Australia open to providing this type of support?uea
Senator GREEN: Thanks, Chair. I just have a couple of questions. Firstly, and perhaps the minister’s best placed to answer this, I have a question around the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian representative here in Australia, Mr Abdulhadi, has said that the Palestinian Authority wants Australia’s support in carrying out reforms. Is Australia open to providing this type of support?
Senator Wong: Yes, we are. Obviously we have experience in terms of governance support or governance capacity building in other areas. But I want to start on a matter of principle: if you’re serious about two states, which means a Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel, and, if you believe, as the government does, that the only path to long-term peace and security for Israelis and for Palestinians is two state, then we have to do what we can to take the necessary steps, including to make a Palestinian state viable. That’s a state that is capable of delivering on the needs of the Palestinian people. It means capable and accountable systems of governance. You would have heard me say previously, as have others, including our American allies and friends, that we want to see a reformed Palestinian Authority. We want a Palestinian Authority that is committed to peace and a Palestinian Authority that is ready to engage in a meaningful political process. So, yes, I have asked the department to look at what role we could play in supporting this reform to deliver to the needs of the Palestinian people for the reasons I’ve outlined.
Senator GREEN: Perhaps because of those reasons, Minister, are other countries also signalling the need and support for a reformed Palestinian Authority?
Senator Wong: They have publicly, and it’s also something that I outlined in the 63 engagements and also the visit I made and other discussions associated with various multilateral or bilateral meetings. This is a topic of consideration and discussion and focus by many who wish to contribute to the cause of peace. Certainly there have been public indications of similar intentions and hopes from the United Kingdom, the US, the EU, certain key Arab states and other key partners about the importance of seeing the PA undertake reforms, and countries are considering what role they could play in that process.
Senator GREEN: Thanks, Minister. I have one other topic, Chair, if we can go to that.