Danby questions why Australian Foreign Minister didn’t take into account new Israeli revelations
Marise Payne is the new Foreign Minister of Australia; she will be an even more pareve (blander) version of Julie Bishop…writes Michael Danby.
Her first speech to the United Nations on Sunday was a super cautious restatement of the Coalition’s foreign policy in her first international platform. As The Australian Newspaper editorialised, she lost an opportunity to give real meaning “to Australia’s stance on global issues”. I agree with the editorial who rightly condemned her “2 sentence reiteration of the ongoing Australian support for the Iranian Nuclear deal” set by the Turnbull Government.
Julie Bishop, Michael Danby and Marise Payne
Apart from their support for the Iran nuke deal (JCPOA) the Liberal Government, over the last two and a half years has refused to even condemn 6 Iranian Ballistic missile firings, although other world leaders, especially those who are signatory’s to the Iranian Nuclear Deal, Angela Merkel (Germany), Emmanuel Macron (France), Theresa May (UK) all raised their voices against the Iran’s provocative missiles that could be tipped with Atomic bombs.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Payne made no comment about widely reported new developments with the Iranian Nuclear program or Iran’s regional aggression. One didn’t expect her to say anything about the Israeli chutzpah in stealing the entire warehouse of archive material proving nuclear weapons were Tehran’s plan from the beginning but she did worse.
She might have read the newspapers however before her appearance that widely reported new developments with Irans aggressive push. She might have had her department of Foreign Affairs let her view the Israeli presentation to the United Nations, made a few days earlier by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One doesn’t have to be the greatest advocate or admirer of the tough, sun tanned Israeli premier to say that his presentation in New York, to the UN was jaw dropping. It was focussed exclusively on Iran and Tehran’s Middle East Stooges. He gave the street address of yet another Atomic warehouse in Iran capital (and the Google map reference to it). This new warehouse contained radioactive components from the Iranian Nuclear Program and it was around the corner from Iran’s finest rug cleaning business. Netanyahu explained the irresponsibility of the Ayatollahs who rule in Tehran. Once they were aware the Israeli’s were on to them they simply started distributing this radioactive material all over Tehran.
Marise Payne is one of the founders of the left faction of the NSW Liberals and can truly be described as a politician “who rose without trace”. It is disappointing that Australia said nothing about Iran’s support for organisations officially categorised by the Australian Parliament as terrorists; Hezbollah and Hamas. Nor did she refer to Iran’s deep and widespread penetration of Syria. The Australian editorial rightly claimed she said nothing about Iran’s work in undermining the US led Middle East coalition of which Australia was a part.
She is continuing Julie Bishop’s policy of appeasement of Iran. As the Australian Newspaper editorial concluded “Australia is a serious player on the world stage… Senator Payne could have used her appearance more effectively”. Finally, before the usual suspect’s whinge in the letters column but what does the Labor Party say? I can only state my view that Iran’s accusation of nuclear weapons would have the most disastrous consequences, not just for Israel and the moderate Arab states but for the world.
Hon. Michael Danby is a past Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade JSCFDAT
Regarding Michael Danby’s comments that Marise Payne does not support Israel re the Iranian issue, with all due respect to Michael and acknowledging his amazing contribution to the Jewish community, it think Marise as a new foreign minister has a right to make up her own mind what the Australian stand on this should be. Australia is a very good country for Jews to live in but we can not expect its foreign policy to be always in defence of Israel. That is Israel’s job.
Michael,
Your lack of focus on whats important for the labour constituents and generally of the electorate leaves you with a very small legacy of achievement. Health, education and welfare, the pillar policies of the labour movement need to have the strongest focus. The electorate of Port Philip is a middle class one and appealing to those that will make it in life anyway is ok, but not in -line with the tenets of Labour.
Lastly, I am jewish, and find the blind support that you promote for whatever Israel does ridiculous. States, countries make mistakes and do bad things… these should be condemned and criticised to ensure that they aren’t repeated. I write holocaust commemoration scripts and understand the principle of remembrance. You haven’t condemned Israel for its trangressions. I suspect you didn’t condemn other countries for their perversions of human rights and undemocratic ways.
Politicians in Australia are becoming boring and short sighted on getting re-elected and staying in power. I would rather that they achieve some tangible results in making our lives, healthier, richer and safer. I haven’t detected those achievements in your time in parliament.
Daniel Andrews is at least doing something… my labour (A Vict legislative Councillor) and liberal friends are supportive of his efforts and acknowledge that there is at least some activity and achievement happening.
I hope in your retirement years that you do something more about making our community a better place…. not just placating the Zionist friends you have…our worlds are bigger than that!
Bring back Gough, Keating and Hawke…. todays federal folks are lacking vision and commitment!
regards Henry