12m agoTue 10 Jun 2025 at 9:54pm
Will Albanese meet Trump on the sidelines of the G7?
Switching gears slightly to an anticipated meeting on the sidelines of the G7 between Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong deflects questions if the PM has locked in that meeting yet.
“Obviously the prime minister’s program is a matter for him and I’m sure those announcements would be made in the usual way,” she says.
“But I know the prime minster’s had three very constructive conversations with President Trump, and … we’re continuing to engage with the Trump Administration and I know that the prime minister’s looking forward to the G7.”
17m agoTue 10 Jun 2025 at 9:49pm
Did Australia give the US a heads up on the sanctions?
Penny Wong has declined to say if the Trump Administration was forewarned of Australia’s decision to apply sanctions to the two Israeli government ministers.
“There are occasions on which, in our alliance, we have had differences of views and differences of approach, but obviously there remains a great deal of strategic alignment across many domains,” she tells ABC’s Radio National Breakfast.
“In terms of how we deal with this diplomatically, I won’t go into all the detail of that, but you would anticipate that we have engaged with others as appropriate.”
It’s almost the same answer the foreign minister gave when speaking with ABC News Breakfast, when asked to respond to the US’ condemnation of Australia’ sanctions.
“Obviously, through the history of our alliance, we have had differences of approach, differences of opinion,” she said earlier.
“But we remain aligned in many areas of strategic objectives and interest and that will continue.”
23m agoTue 10 Jun 2025 at 9:42pm
Sanctions specifically refer to the West BankLoading…
The sanctions applied to both Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich specifically refer to the West Bank.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong is asked if previous comments from Smotrich on Gaza influence her decision to impose the sanctions.
“Obviously, we make the decisions on the legal basis that we make them, and the statement of case is very clearly in relation to their actions on the
West Bank,” she says.
Speaking later with ABC’s Radio National Breakfast, Wong said it was the sanctions “this coalition of countries have determined”.
“Well, we’ve been clear about our position on Gaza, and we have acted with other countries to continue to call for the release of hostages,” she said.
“We’ve condemned Hamas for their terrorist activities and the horrific events of October 7.
“We have called and voted for the Israeli government to permit aid unhindered, and we will continue to advocate for all of these things, including a ceasefire.”
27m agoTue 10 Jun 2025 at 9:39pmSanctions against two Israeli ministers demonstrate ‘level of concern’: Wong
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has outlined why Australia joined with allies to sanction two far-right Israeli government ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
“These two ministers have been the most extremist and hardline of an extremist settler enterprise, which is both unlawful and violent,” she told ABC News Breakfast.
“The most important thing to note, though … is that we are acting with others.
“You’ve heard me speak about the fact that Australia can’t
shift the dial on the Middle East by ourselves. What we can do is act with others, and that’s what we’ve done. And the sanctions have been imposed in concert with the United Kingdom, with Canada and with Norway and New Zealand.”
So what do the sanctions actually mean? Wong says the two men won’t be able to travel to Australia and any assets they hold here will be frozen and people won’t be able to provide them with financial support.
The statement Australia and our four allies joining together to sanction the two ministers is “as important as the effect of the sanctions”, she says.
“I think
the fact that the countries who have imposed these sanctions are countries who have historical relationships with the state of Israel, does demonstrate the level of concern that we have about what is occurring.”
41m agoTue 10 Jun 2025 at 9:25pm
Australia raised complaint over ‘shooting’ of reporter in LA through ‘appropriate channels’
Penny Wong was also asked about Australia’s complaint to the US over the shooting of Nine reporter Lauren Tomasi with a rubber bullet.
“We’ve made the appropriate representations, and I’m very conscious also that we should handle this in the way Lauren is comfortable with,” Wong said.
“We obviously have reached out through the consulate general in Los Angeles [and] stand ready to provide any assistance she needs.”
Asked if the PM would raise the matter with Donald Trump during an expected meeting on the sidelines of the G7, Wong said Anthony Albanese addressed that yesterday.
“He wouldn’t telegraph these sorts things ahead of the discussion. But please be assured that we have acted through the all the appropriate diplomatic channels,” she said.
42m agoTue 10 Jun 2025 at 9:24pm
‘Stay safe’: Wong’s message to Aussies in LALoading…
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has urged Australians living in Los Angeles to avoid the protest areas and “stay safe” as unrest over immigration raids continues.
“It’s deeply troubling and we’ve seen a lot of really concerning images,” she told Nine this morning.
“I won’t comment on the domestic policies, but would say to Australians, please avoid the protest area and please
listen to the instructions and news from the authorities and stay safe.”
55m agoTue 10 Jun 2025 at 9:11pmUS condemns Australia’s sanctions against two Israeli ministers
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned Australia’s sanctions on two far-right Israeli government ministers.
Australia joined with the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Norway to issue sanctions against two far-right Israeli government ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
In a statement, Rubio said:
“The United States condemns the sanctions imposed by the governments of United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on two sitting members of the Israeli cabinet.
“These sanctions do not advance U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war.
“We reject any notion of equivalence: Hamas is a terrorist organization that committed unspeakable atrocities, continues to hold innocent civilians hostage, and prevents the people of Gaza from living in peace.”
“We remind our partners not to forget who the real enemy is. The United States urges the reversal of the sanctions and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel.”
1h agoTue 10 Jun 2025 at 9:06pmAustralia, UK sanction Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich
Australia has issued sanctions against two of the most controversial members of Israel’s government, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing the men of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
In a joint action by the Australian, British, Canadian, New Zealand and Norwegian governments, the pair will face travel bans and have their assets frozen.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the men had “incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights”.
“Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous,” she said in a joint statement with her foreign colleagues.
“These actions are not acceptable.
“We have engaged the Israeli government on this issue extensively, yet violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity.”
Ben-Gvir serves as national security minister in Israeli Prime Minister’s Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, while Smotrich is the finance minister.
1h agoTue 10 Jun 2025 at 8:55pm
👋 Good morning
Hey mates. Welcome to our federal politics live blog!
I’m Courtney Gould, logging in from the ABC’s Parliament House bureau in Canberra, ready to bring you all of today’s updates in federal politics live.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong is doing the media rounds this morning after Australia joined with the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Norway to issue sanctions against two far-right Israeli government ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich (more on that shortly).
Elsewhere, Anthony Albanese will begin his day in Sydney to unveil the new terminal at Western Sydney International Airport.
Let’s get blogging!
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