Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has said Penny Wong’s speech suggesting a possible future recognition of a Palestinian state was the “most reckless act” by a foreign minister in two decades.
In a speech on Wednesday night, Mr Dutton also said Senator Wong had contributed to “a national moral fog that has made anti-Semitism permissible”.
While Senator Wong stopped short of committing Australia to recognising a Palestinian state in her speech on Tuesday night, she said recognising Palestinian statehood would help “build momentum towards a two-state solution” with Israel.
Mr Dutton, who has stood firmly on Israel’s side since the 7 October Hamas attack, told a Liberal Party fundraising event in Sydney that a two-state solution was not conceivable until Hamas was removed.
“This reality renders the Foreign Minister’s comments last night completely irrational, inappropriate and inappropriate,” Mr Dutton said.
“For an ill-advised domestic political victory, Penny Wong has irreparably damaged our relationship with our ally Israel – an ally that has shared intelligence with us and prevented terrorist attacks against our own interests, including against members of the Australian Defence Force.
“It is the most reckless act by a foreign minister I have seen in my 22 years in parliament and has weakened our international standing.”
Mr Dutton went on to accuse the government of allowing “an anti-Semitic rot that is damaging our nation, our society and our institutions”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also called for a two-state solution, but said Hamas should have no role in a future Palestinian state, describing it as a terrorist organisation.
Asked about Mr Dutton’s comments, Mr Albanese said they were “just more dirty negativity from Peter Dutton”.
“This is something that is long-standing Australian policy and something that I’ve been very consistent with for a long time,” he told Seven television this morning.
“But there can be no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state. We have made that very clear. So has the rest of the Western world,” he concluded.
