Doorstop, Parliament House

Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Obviously we've seen the attacks, the pager events and deaths in relation to Hizballah.

I'd make a few points about that. First, Hizballah is a terrorist organisation. I would also say to Australians in Lebanon, this reflects the concern we've had for some time about the potential for regional escalation. You would have heard me saying, "If you are in Lebanon, leave now". We are concerned about wider escalation, and we would continue to urge all parties to avert a regional escalation.

Happy to take questions.

Journalist: Should Israel take responsibility if it is indeed behind these attacks, or should it rule it out if it's not?

Foreign Minister: Well, I don't speak for the Government of Israel, that's a matter for them. What I would say is we know that Israel lives in a unique security environment, and we also know that we see a cycle of violence in the Middle East. We would like to see peace and the peoples of region would like to see peace.

Journalist: Do you think Israel is responsible?

Foreign Minister: I don't speak for the Government of Israel.

Journalist: Why have you abstained from the UN vote?

Foreign Minister: Well, I've just explained our position on that. We would have preferred to have been in a position where we could support a resolution that reflected the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion, and we worked very hard in New York with other countries to try and get changes to the resolution that would enable us to support it.

We, as you remember, we voted for recognition and ceasefire, two different resolutions over the last few months, because we were able to get a set of words that we could support. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Nevertheless, we support the principles of determination for the Palestinian people.

So, therefore, we were not going to vote against, and like the United Kingdom and Canada, we sought to abstain and make clear our views.

Journalist: Two Hezbollah fighters are dead, 2,750 people were injured in these attacks. Putting whoever's behind this aside, because we don't know who's behind it at this stage, because it hasn't been confirmed, with that many civilians injured, surely these attacks must be condemned.

Foreign Minister: Look, I would say all violence is something we don't wish to see. We wish to see peace in the Middle East. Again, I would make the point I've made about Hizballah; it's a terrorist organisation. We list it as such in Australia. But ultimately what we want to see is an end to this cycle of violence from all sides.

Journalist: You've been calling for Australians to leave Lebanon for some time now. These two incidents over the last two days, has that, you know, upped your rhetoric at all? Will you change any advice?

Foreign Minister: Our advice is already do not travel, and my advice for some time now, and the Prime Minister's, has been come home. So, I'm not sure how much more we can say to Australians. There is a risk of a regional escalation, and the numbers of Australians in Lebanon would make it very difficult for the government to assist everyone at one time. So we would say to people a regional escalation and the risk of that means you should come home.

Journalist: And what about flights getting out, do you understand people can get out now of Lebanon if they want to?

Foreign Minister: I understand there are still commercial options available, but one of the things I did say some time ago is there is a possibility Beirut Airport will close quickly in the event of conflict, and that is why we've been saying to people for some time you should leave.

Journalist: Just on the UN vote, a lot of people around Australia feel like the Government isn't doing enough to pressure Israel in this conflict. You had an opportunity where the majority of countries around the world voted in favour and only a few abstained or voted against. Does this send the wrong message to people in Australia that, you know, we're not doing that?

Foreign Minister: I understand why so many Australians are concerned by the conflict in Gaza. 10,000 children have been killed. I am deeply concerned about the conflict in Gaza. And we will continue to do everything we are able to do to seek peace, and you've seen that.

You've seen us vote for ceasefire, you've seen us work with Canada and New Zealand at leader level statements to call on Israel, and other parties, including the terrorist organisation, Hamas, to agree to a ceasefire. You've seen us vote in a vote that was highly criticised by some for greater recognition of the Palestinian delegation at the United Nations.

You've seen us put sanctions on settlers. We don't export weapons to Israel, and we will continue to look at ways we can add our voice to a pathway out of this conflict, because we also want peace in the Middle East, and we regret that we were not in a position to support this resolution, alongside the United Kingdom. Thank you.