QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:19): I'm not sure what—we don't comment on every domestic action that every government takes. Senator WONG: I know you're the leader now, but perhaps you could allow me to respond. I know you don't like the answer, but we don't comment on every domestic action that every government takes.

We don't comment on every domestic, repressive action that President Putin takes. We don't comment on everything we disagree with that every democratically elected leader takes. We comment on things if asked, and we comment on things where they are in Australia's national interest.

As a matter of principle—we are a democracy—we believe that democracy should function with the ability of individuals to fully and fairly contest elections and to be free to do so.