On Monday night, Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong delivered an hour-long lecture for the ANU Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership (CAAL) in Llewellyn Hall. Her speech on strengthening foreign policy ties was contrasted against the Pro-Palestenian protests both inside and outside the lecture theatre. 

Outside the lecture theatre, student protestors were gathered in a fenced-off area. A spokesperson from ‘Students for Palestine’, Carter Chryse, stated that “She [Penny Wong] is overseeing… Australian support for Israeli genocide… there should be no peace for these people while Australia continues the two-way arms trade with Israel.” 

This sentiment is shared across most Palestine protests due to the reluctance of the Federal Labor Government to sanction the state of Israel. While the party has called for ceasefires, a two-state solution and has sanctioned seven Israeli settlers involved in violent attacks on Palestinians, it  has also refused to recognise a Palestinian state despite voting for Palestinian membership at the UN General Assembly, and has maintained trade partnerships with Israel.  

The annual CAAL lecture, launched in January 2020, hosts at least one influential Asian-Australian person to discuss a topic of national or international importance. 

Inside the lecture theatre, Senator Wong, introduced by former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans, began her speech, which was faced with the silent waving of multiple Palestine flags in the middle row by student protestors. 

Her speech was interrupted by protestors who stood up and shouted “You refuse to sanction Israel” and “Why are you supporting genocide?” 

The Foreign Minister responded, saying, “We are a democracy and everyone’s voice matters and… I am deeply respectful of and understand the pain and trauma… this issue generates. I would say we don’t gain anything by shouting each other down”. 

Her response was met with around a minute of applause whilst the protesters heckled with the audience.

After the applause, the host of the lecture stated “ANU has a long history of student activism… our community have the right to freely express themselves, provided it is done in a respectful manner… the university is happy to hear your views in a more appropriate forum”. The host then urged the protestors to leave the theatre, to which the protestors shouted “Free Palestine” on their way out whilst waving the Palestinian flag.

Despite this alleged support for student activism, in May the University ordered protestors at the encampment to disband, with security and the Australian Federal Police being called to the premises. Earlier in the semester, students at the encampment were also surveilled through CCTV cameras when the camp’s electricity was cut off.

After the protestors were removed, Penny Wong went on to discuss policy reforms dedicated to university students whilst the sound of student protestors beating drums outside could be heard. 

Notably, she mentioned the Colombo Plan, an Australian Government initiative aimed at supporting undergraduates study, learn languages and partake in internships in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Foreign Minister’s focus on Asian-Australian leadership was starkly overshadowed on Monday, and how the Labor government will reconcile its position on Palestine with pro-Palestine student protests across Australia remains to be seen.

Disclosure: The author of this piece is a member of the Australian Labor Party.