'Gobsmacked by the level of amateurishness': Liberal Senator Dave Sharma calls out Albanese government's initial response to US strikes against Iran

Sky News AU

3 hours ago

Liberal Senator and Australia's former ambassador to Israel, Dave Sharma, has called out the Albanese government's reaction to United States strikes on Iran, saying he was 'gobsmacked' by the response.
Following the strikes authorised by the Trump administration on Sunday, the government's initial response came via a statement, issued by a spokesperson, which did not overtly express support for the move.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese then confirmed a day after the US action he did support efforts which prevented Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Senator Sharma expressed dismay over the initial statement provided, saying he thought it was 'very likely' the Albanese government was pressured by the US to publicly back a move conducted by an ally of Australia.
'I was gobsmacked by the level of amateurishness shown by the government yesterday to not have anyone significant front the media, to put out a bland, anodyne statement which said nothing, attributable to only a government spokesperson,' he told Sky News host Chris Kenny on Monday.
He said the Australian public are 'rightly looking' to the government for the country's official stance on the conflict and what the US move means for Australians in the region.
'The government was absent from the field. I mean it's amateurish,' Senator Sharma said.
The Senator said he imagined Washington may have began asking questions of Canberra following the Albanese government's initial response.
Mr Albanese on Monday maintained the statement issued earlier was appropriate.
'The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon, and we support action to prevent that — that is what this is,' he said at Parliament House in Canberra.
'The US action was directed at specific sites central to Iran's nuclear program. We don't want escalation and a full-scale war.
Meanwhile, Israel Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said Australia's official backing of the US's action against Iran's nuclear program is 'better late than never, obviously'.
Speaking from Tel Aviv shortly before a warning siren began blaring, Ms Haskel told Sky News on Monday evening Australia remains a 'close ally' of Israel.
'There's a very close friendship and I think that these are historical times, and it's important to act. Not just words, but actions are more important,' Ms Haskel said.
Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister continued talking to Sky News host Chris Kenny while her and many others made their way to a bomb shelter located inside a synagogue after sirens indicating incoming Iranian strikes were activated.
'As you can see, live, this is our bombing shelter. We have many people here who have been hiding in order to keep safe from the missile attack. This is Iran targeting civilian populations directly,' Ms Haskel said.