I acknowledge the question from Senator Cash. She would have heard me, in my contribution on that motion, provide an answer to the topics that she is raising. The point I have made is that this is a government that does represent the community more completely than any government in Australia’s history. It is a government that does have members and senators from a wide range of faiths, perspectives and cultural heritages.
Senator CASH (Western Australia—Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (14:40): My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Earlier today, you voted to agree that the slogan ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ opposes Israel’s right to exist, is a call for the abolition of the State of Israel and is frequently used by those who seek to intimidate Jewish Australians via acts of antisemitism.
Tragically, this phrase is increasingly being used in Australia and elsewhere as part of an unprecedented wave of antisemitism. The Prime Minster has agreed that this is a very violent statement and that it doesn’t have a place in our political debate. However, yesterday, Senator Payman, a Labor senator, proudly repeated this very phrase in front of assembled media. Has the Prime Minister now spoken with Senator Payman about her use of the phrase and asked, or demanded, that she retract it? What apology and other action has he demanded of her?
Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:41): I acknowledge the question from Senator Cash. She would have heard me, in my contribution on that motion, provide an answer to the topics that she is raising. The point I have made is that this is a government that does represent the community more completely than any government in Australia’s history. It is a government that does have members and senators from a wide range of faiths, perspectives and cultural heritages.
Senator Ruston: You were asked a question!
The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston, order!
Senator Thorpe: She’s the only who had the guts to say it. You should all be ashamed!
The PRESIDENT: Senator Thorpe, order!
Senator WONG: What I also said in that contribution—and I think it is demonstrated by the interjections of Senator Thorpe, Senator Ruston and Senator Cash—is that all of us in this place ought be peacemakers. We ought try and bring people together. We know—
Honourable senators interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Just as I asked for silence when Senator Birmingham moved the motion earlier in the day, I’m going to ask for silence once again. Senator Cash, you’ve asked your question. The minister is on her feet. There needs to be silence.
Senator WONG: I said earlier today, and I stand by it, all of us need to be peacemakers. We understand what has occurred and what is occurring from the abhorrent attack by Hamas—a terrorist organisation—to the humanitarian catastrophe that is incurring in Gaza and the loss of life. We mourn all lives, all innocent lives. I laid out in detail, in our response, our policy position, including in relation to that phrase, and I would refer the senator to it. She knows it.
I ask the Senate to consider whether using this, and these issues, for political division is the responsible thing to do. What you saw you saw today in response, by the collective that is the Labor Party, was a position that sought to be clear about our policy position but also to lead by example— (Time expired)
The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash, a first supplementary?
Senator CASH (Western Australia—Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (14:43): I ask again: has the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, shown any leadership and spoken with Senator Payman about her use of the phrase and demanded she retract it? What apology and other action has the Prime Minister of Australia asked of Senator Payman?
Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:44): The Prime Minister of Australia has articulated, including today, but on numerous occasions—
Senator Cash: He’s done nothing!
The PRESIDENT: Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Once again, senators, you are being disrespectful and disorderly. I’ve asked for silence; that is what I expect.
Senator WONG: The Prime Minister of Australia and the foreign minister of Australia have articulated our position in relation to the two-state solution and in relation to that particular phrase. We have done so on numerous occasions. I did so just a couple of hours ago, and the senator knows this. What I know from engagement with Jewish community organisations is that they do not want antisemitism in this place used as a politically divisive issue. What they want—
Senator Hughes interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Hughes, you are out of order and you are being incredibly disrespectful. I’ve asked for silence a number of times. I should not have to keep having to sit the minister down. You are free to make a contribution at some other point, not in question time. Minister, please, continue.
Senator WONG: What Jewish Australians do want is for us to speak with one voice against antisemitism, and that is what I sought to do today.
Similarly, we should be respectful of the trauma and distress that is felt by so many in our— (Time expired)
Senator McKenzie interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, which part of my request—my order—for silence does not apply to you? Which part? I should not have to keep drawing the chamber to order. If you want to make a contribution, find another place during the sitting of the Senate, not here. Senator Cash, second supplementary?
Senator CASH (Western Australia—Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (14:46): Has the Prime Minister of Australia now spoken to Senator Payman about her use of the phrase, yesterday, ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’?
Senator Thorpe: Yay! Yay!
The PRESIDENT: Senator Thorpe, once again: I’ve asked for silence; it applies to you. I should not have to keep calling individuals senators by name. That includes you. I’m asking for silence.
Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:46): It does say something about the motivation of those opposite that, after the government senators voted in support of a motion which specifically—
Senator Cash: Mr Albanese is the Prime Minister.
The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash, I’ve asked for silence. It applies to you. You’ve asked your question.
Senator Cash interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash, no. Silence! You’re not in a debate with me. I’ve asked for silence. I’m the President. Minister Wong.
Senator WONG: I will go back to the beginning. It does say something about the motivation of those opposite that, after the government senators have voted for a motion which makes clear our position on that phrase, they seek to make political division about it. It says something about their motivation.
Senator Ruston interjecting—
Senator WONG: It says something about their genuineness. I am always happy, and I have been for all of my political life, to stand—
Senator Ruston interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston, order! I am waiting for silence.
Senator Birmingham: I raise a point of order. The Prime Minister, in the other place, has twice today been asked whether he has intervened in this matter. The Minister representing the Prime Minister in this place has now thrice been asked whether he has acted on this matter. I ask that the minister respond directly to the specific question asked by Senator Cash, which could not have been worded more precisely, about whether or not the Prime Minister has spoken with Senator Payman.
The PRESIDENT: I believe that the minister is being relevant. I have asked for silence.
Senator Cash interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Cash, I do hope that comment was not directed to me. It is my job, as the President, and my authority—
Senator Cash interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash, be quiet!—to demand order in this place. Minister, please continue.
Senator WONG: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition should withdraw the imputation about the President.
Senator Cash interjecting—
Senator McGrath interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Cash and Senator McGrath! Senator Cash responded by saying it wasn’t directed at me.
Senator Cash interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash, you are not in a debate with me or Senator Watt.
Senator Cash interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash! No, Senator Cash. It’s time for silence. I’m going to ask the minister to finish her contribution, and I do want silence and I want some respect.
Senator WONG: We know what the motivation is from those opposite. They’re not interested in the government—
Senator Hughes: How dare you support terrorists?
The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt?
Senator Watt: I’m sure you heard—
The PRESIDENT: I did. I don’t want it repeated. I’m simply going to ask Senator Hughes to withdraw that comment.
Senator Hughes: I think everyone would. I withdraw
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hughes, I’m going to ask you once again to withdraw the comment without commentary.
Senator Hughes: I withdraw.
The PRESIDENT: Thank you. Minister, please continue.
Senator WONG: We support security for Israel, and we support the establishment of a Palestinian state. (Time expired)
Senator Hanson-Young: I’m on a point of order, President. There are rules in this place about treating people with respect and about having a safe workplace. What I have just seen is intimidation, bullying and harassment of a high order. If you’re going to come into this place and do it, you should be called out and thrown out.
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson-Young, thank you very much. You are not on a point of order. I can assure you that I was neither bullied nor intimidated, and the comments were withdrawn.
Senator Hanson-Young interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson-Young, please resume your seat. All of the offensive comments have been withdrawn.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Senator Wong: On the point of order, this is an issue on which there are strong emotions and strong views. I would really encourage all senators to not engage in personal attacks in the context of this debate.
The PRESIDENT: Senator Hughes, I didn’t hear the comments, but, if you made the comment, I would invite you at this point—
Senator Hughes interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Please don’t talk to me when I am speaking. I didn’t hear the comment.
Senator Waters: I heard the comment.
The PRESIDENT: The same applies to you, Senator Waters. You can’t stand up and demand respect in this place if you don’t then respect me when I’m responding. The fact of the matter is—
Senator Thorpe: President—
The PRESIDENT: No, Senator Thorpe, I’m not entertaining any points of order. Please resume your seat. That is my prerogative, to not—
Honourable senators interjecting—
The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator McGrath, order! Senator Hughes, if you did make a further comment, I invite you to withdraw. That is up to you. I am going to move on. I am going to continue to ask for respectful silence, and I remind people of the Jenkins review and what we’ve all committed to: to be respectful.