Question Time AU

Take Note Debate

Palestine

Senate · Wednesday 24 June 2026

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

Senators from the Australian Greens debated the Minister for Foreign Affairs' answers regarding a United Nations report on the conflict in Palestine. The speakers criticised the government for failing to impose comprehensive sanctions or an arms trade embargo, contrasting this with Australia's response to Russia. They argued that the government's silence on specific findings regarding the targeting of children and infrastructure was unacceptable. The motion to take note of the Minister's answers was agreed to.

Outcome

Question agreed to.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Opened the debate

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW) (Australian Greens) Greens

Faruqi moved the motion to take note of the Minister's answers, arguing that the government maintained a double standard by imposing sanctions on Russia while refusing to do so for Israel. Faruqi cited evidence from an independent report alleging systematic targeting of hospitals and deprivation of nutrition for children. Faruqi stated that narrow sanctions against individuals were insufficient given the scale of the violence. Faruqi called on the government to end the arms trade, impose comprehensive trade sanctions, and formally recognise the situation as genocide.