STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator BRAGG (New South Wales) (13:42): Regrettably, Iran has become a pariah in our world and here in Australia. Given it was the architect of the attack on the Adass synagogue in Melbourne, we know how active the Iranian regime is in our country. It seeks in Australia, just as it seeks to do at home and elsewhere abroad, to engage in terrorism, murder, blackmail and threats.

This government is only going to be eliminated from our planet with an alternative that has credibility and the respect of the opposition forces. So I'm very pleased to report to the Senate that, in the coming days, the members of the opposition shadow ministry will be meeting with Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran, who is living in exile in the United States.

I make the point that this is not an endeavour in imperialism; this is an endeavour in trying to thread together the forces of the opposition that are going to be necessary to bring down this terrorist regime. I am very touched and have been very moved by the amount of support that we have received from the Persian community, from the Australian Iranian community, across our country.

It has been a very troubled community in many ways because it has been targeted by elements of the regime here in beautiful Australia. This is going to be an important meeting with the former crown prince of Iran that members of the shadow cabinet will have in the next few days. I'm very much looking forward to seeing Australia play its role in helping rid the globe of this terrible terrorist government.