Senator Penny Wong – opening statement at Foreign Affairs Estimates, including references to Gaza

photo of Senator Penny Wong
June 3, 2024

I have previously said it is not okay for anyone, much less someone who claims to be a leader, to blame people in Australia for what is happening overseas. We all understand that the situation in Gaza is catastrophic. What we have seen in Rafah underlines why Australia and the international community have been united in opposition. The death and destruction is horrific, and this human suffering is unacceptable. We reiterate to the Netanyahu government this cannot continue. We must see an immediate humanitarian ceasefire so that civilians can be protected. Hamas must release hostages, and Israel must allow aid to flow at scale, as directed by the ICJ.

Senator Wong: I do. Can I start by remembering former senator Linda White. She was a woman of incisive intellect and deep principle, and we miss her.

I begin today by, again, conveying Australia’s deepest condolences to the government and the people of Papua New Guinea. Our countries are the closest of neighbours and the best of friends. Australia remains at the ready to add to our initial response of $2.5 million in humanitarian assistance, including emergency relief supplies, logistical support from the ADF and expertise on geohazards to inform early recovery efforts.

Since the last estimates, Australia has hosted a number of international guests. We’ve had leaders from across South-East Asia for the ASEAN Australia Special Summit, and we were grateful that all leaders from the ASEAN region were gracious enough to attend the summit. We hosted the foreign and defence ministers of Japan, the foreign and defence secretaries of the United Kingdom and the foreign and defence ministers of the Republic of Korea. I’ve also hosted the foreign minister of Germany. In addition, I have visited Bangladesh, including Cox’s Bazaar, and Singapore. In Tuvalu we took forward our shared vision for the Falepili Union, on a bipartisan visit with Senator Birmingham, and I thank him for his engagement.

All of these engagements have been grounded in fundamental, strategic and diplomatic priorities for Australia. At a time of increasing global uncertainty, facing conflict in Europe and the Middle East and with the risk of conflict closer to home, we must do everything we can to preserve peace. We want a peace that enables Australia and other countries to have the freedom to decide our own futures without interference. We want each country, whether large or small, to operate by the same laws, and, when disputes inevitably arise, which they will, we want them managed according to the rules by talking and co-operation, not by force, threat of force or raw power.

Of course, this does not happen on its ow; we have to help make it happen, including by upholding international law, whether it be the law of the sea or humanitarian law. We do nothing to help make it happen by recklessly threatening to pull out of the bodies that uphold international law. That kind of talk may seem tough to some, but it undermines Australia’s core security interests. For example, we cannot insist that China abide by international legal decisions in the South China Sea but threaten to pull out of the International Criminal Court. We do nothing to shape the kind of region Australia needs by picking fights, blowing up relationships or beating the drums of war. We do help make it happen by rebuilding and stabilising relationships with mature, calm, consistent engagement. That is the priority of this government.

By combining all the elements of our national power we can advance Australia’s interests in the world. The new concept of national defence underpinning the inaugural National Defence Strategy comprehends that, as we seek to maintain peace in our region, our nation’s front line is diplomacy; it is the men and women behind me and those who operate in our posts across the world. They and their work are underwritten by our military capability. Diplomacy frames the calculus that each country faces. It signals intent; it signals credibility and even red lines. The secretary can provide more detail on the work we have done to strengthen, for example, the diplomatic network.

Senators, as tensions increase around the world, it is a time for our political leaders to work together to protect our nation’s character. We are a pluralist nation. We welcome different races, religions and views. We are united by respect for one another’s humanity and for each other’s right to live in peace. All of us, everyone here, has a high responsibility to protect that. There are too many who are prepared to exploit differences in our community for political advantage, spreading false information in an attempt to incite conflict here to reproduce the conflict here. Remember, our actions do have consequences.

I have previously said it is not okay for anyone, much less someone who claims to be a leader, to blame people in Australia for what is happening overseas. We all understand that the situation in Gaza is catastrophic. What we have seen in Rafah underlines why Australia and the international community have been united in opposition. The death and destruction is horrific, and this human suffering is unacceptable. We reiterate to the Netanyahu government this cannot continue. We must see an immediate humanitarian ceasefire so that civilians can be protected. Hamas must release hostages, and Israel must allow aid to flow at scale, as directed by the ICJ. So we welcome the current ceasefire proposal from President Biden and I publicly urge parties to agree to its terms. Thank you.

CHAIR:  Thank you, Minister. I assume you’re happy to table that speech.

Senator Wong:   Yes.

CHAIR:  Secretary. You have the call.

Link to Parliamentary Hansard