Press conference - Geelong, Victoria

Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Thanks very much for coming. I first wanted to respond to the strikes by Iran on Israel. The strikes by Iran are a dangerous escalation and we condemn them fully. It is rightly condemned by all who seek de-escalation and a ceasefire. Under international law, Israel has a right to defend itself against these attacks. And as you know, Australia always urges adherence to international law. In relation to the situation in Lebanon, obviously, overnight we have seen further developments, including deadly clashes in southern Lebanon. We have been clear that the cycle of violence cannot continue and we have urged all parties to show restraint and de-escalate. And you might recall Australia and many other countries, including the United States, put out a statement last week in relation to the situation in Lebanon calling for a 21-day ceasefire. And we continue to back the American call for that ceasefire. I'm obviously very concerned about the Australians who remain in Lebanon. We've been working to assist those Australians who wish to depart. This has included working with partners and also with commercial operators to secure seats on flights.

At present, there are some 1,700 Australians and their immediate family members registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who have indicated that they wish to depart Lebanon. We have been working this week to secure seats on flights. Some seats were secured on Monday and Tuesday and I can confirm that we have secured 80 seats on flights that are leaving today. Only 35 of those seats have been taken up. This morning I can confirm we have secured an additional 500 seats for Australians, Australian permanent residents and their immediate family members on two flights to Cyprus which will be leaving on Saturday. Obviously, the operation of these flights will be subject to the security situation and, of course, the airport in Beirut remaining open. What I would say to Australians who wish to leave, please take whatever option is available to you. Please do not wait for your preferred route. Please take whatever option is available to you. I would urge Australians who wish to leave to make sure you are registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can do that via our Crisis Portal or by calling our 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre, which is +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas.

Again, I would say my message to Australians in Lebanon is do not wait. If you are able to secure a seat on a flight, please take that seat. If you have a seat on today's flight, don't delay. Now is not the time for you to wait and see. Now is the time to leave. I'm happy to take questions.

Journalist: Obviously, you've mentioned those Australians that you're going to be evacuating, now how many Australians will the government be looking to evacuate over the coming days?

Foreign Minister: I've outlined the seats we have secured, which are a number of seats to date, including 80 on flights leaving today. And I've indicated we have 500 seats for Australians and permanent residents and their family members leaving on Saturday. But you have heard me say for some time that the number of Australians in Lebanon would make it very difficult for a government to assist all of them. This is why we have been calling for months now for people to depart. And what I would say to Lebanese-Australians is this – I understand this is a deeply distressing time, I also understand there are many people who call Lebanon home, people who have citizenship, Australian citizenship, but reside in Lebanon, and people feel very torn. But I again would say to people, this is really the time to leave. We are very worried about the situation escalating if Beirut Airport closes, the options for departure become even less.

Journalist: If all those 500 seats are taken up, will the Government work over the coming days and weeks to continue to evacuate all Australians?

Foreign Minister: We will continue to secure whatever we are able for Australians to leave Lebanon. Of course we will. Australian citizens, we will always seek to help them, particularly in circumstances like this, and we see a conflict in Lebanon. I simply say this, now is not the time for people to wait and see. People should leave by whatever means they are able to. They should take the first available option.

Journalist: Is the RAAF plane that has landed in Cyprus going to be used to evacuate Australians from Lebanon?

Foreign Minister: We have pre-positioned, as part of our contingencies, RAAF aircraft in Cyprus as you would anticipate. At this stage, whilst Beirut airport remains open, our focus is commercial fights. And the 500 seats that I've announced today.

Journalist: Will that plane bring Australians back to Australia?

Foreign Minister: Well, we pre-positioned that plane for contingency arrangements. Obviously, the Cyprus and then onward journey is the most obvious route, and that's the route that will be being used for the 500 seats that I described earlier, which is people will be taken to Cyprus and then they will be on onward journey from there.

Journalist: Has, I think, that call centre been set up in Canberra and Australia to facilitate calls?

Foreign Minister: Yes.

Journalist: And how should Israel respond to Iran's missile attack?

Foreign Minister: As I said in my opening, Israel has a right to defend itself against Iran's attack. We continue to condemn Iran's behaviour in the region, its destabilisation of the region, its support for many of the actors in the region, including Hizballah. I again make the point that we always urge adherence to international law in all of our statements in relation to the Middle East.

Journalist: How concerned is your government about these protests that are scheduled to take place on the weekend and on Monday to mark the one year?

Foreign Minister: October 7th was the greatest loss of Jewish lives in a single day since the Holocaust. It's a day of grieving and a day of remembrance, and it should be honoured as such. And I would hope that Australians would ensure that it can be honoured with respect and solemnity. It is a solemn occasion. It's not an occasion for protest.

Journalist: Do you think people need to be prosecuted that do continue to take action on the weekend – if they are holding up things like the Hizballah flag and protesting in such a manner that is quite dangerous for our country?

Foreign Minister: Well, first, I would say, in relation to Hizballah – Hizballah is a terrorist organisation and it is a terrorist organisation that no one should be supporting. And I have condemned the flying of those flags. People need to understand what they are saying when they do that – they are promoting an organisation that is a terrorist organisation. That is not conducive to harmony in Australia, to social inclusion and social cohesion I should say. What was the first part of your question?

Journalist: Do you think action should be taken by authorities?

Foreign Minister: In relation to the first part of your question, I would say those are obviously matters ultimately for the state and territory authorities. But I again would say Australia, we are blessed to have people from all over the world and part of how we have ensured that we are a cohesive society is we've respected one another and this is about respect. People should respect, whatever their views about what has happened over this last year, people should respect those who are grieving the loss of life on that horrific day. And I think it would be the right thing for people to respect that.

Journalist: Sorry to be repetitive but rallies are planned for October 7 in Adelaide and the state government has approved them, should they be banned?

Foreign Minister: I think I’ll refer you to my previous answer.

Journalist: In terms of Victorian police, they don't have – obviously there's no permit system in Victoria – so that therefore police can't actually move on people from the protest because they're not technically breaking the law. Do you think all states and territories should have uniform laws in place for protests?

Foreign Minister: Well, I would hope we wouldn't need them. Yeah, I would hope that, you know, we would exercise our rights in this democracy for peaceful protest, respectfully and appropriately. I would hope we wouldn't need to change the law. And that's what I would urge for all Australians.

Journalist: We've seen, obviously, the Land Forces protests, they weren't peaceful, they were anything but peaceful. So, when we've seen these escalations in these types of protests and fear of copycat behaviour from people that just turn up for want to protest, and they're not really even knowing the real reason. Do you then think the governments – 

Foreign Minister: That is a very good point. Well, look, ultimately, I'll leave that to the state and territory authorities. I would hope we wouldn't need to explain to people that peaceful protest means peaceful protest. That is the right in our democracy and that is how we should be exercising that right, peacefully.

Journalist: What's your message to those people that do just turn up these protests and some of them turning up to cause a ruckus and to cause harm?

Foreign Minister: You do the cause that you think you represent no good. You don't do your cause any good by engaging in this sort of behaviour. And it isn't our way in this country to engage in violent protests. We're a democracy that protects the right for peaceful protests and that's what people should engage in. Last one.

Journalist: How many Australians have we got out of Lebanon in the last few days?

Foreign Minister: I'll update those probably at the weekend because I don't have information on how many at this stage, how many we have secured seats for and have travelled over Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. So, I will update those in coming days.

Journalist: Beyond the measures you've addressed or any what evacuation plans are in place?

Foreign Minister: Well, as you would know, we have a lot of contingency plans in place, which is why we pre-positioned the RAAF aircraft as per your earlier questions. Okay, last one.

Journalist: What is intelligence saying about how long –

Foreign Minister: Okay, sorry Channel Seven, but I'm not going to respond on intelligence but I would say in terms of Lebanon, I again say do not wait. The situation is continuing to escalate. I reiterate the call that I have made, the Prime Minister has made for months now to Australians in Lebanon, now is the time to leave.

Thank you very much. Cheers.