QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator FARUQI (New South Wales—Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens) (14:20): My question is to Minister Wong. Twelve countries, including Canada, the UK and France, have announced the introduction of bans on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Despite three years of saying you will work with like-minded countries, your government has refused to take the same steps.

In recent weeks, two Palestinian teenagers were shot and killed by IDF soldiers and settlers. Five students from that same school have been murdered this year alone. On the same day, settlers razed to the ground another Palestinian community, the 66th to be wiped off the map in just three years.

Will you admit that your government won't ban trade with illegal settlements like these allies have because you only care about placating the US and receiving applause from the depraved Israeli government?