Coalition criticises Albanese government's calls for Middle East diplomacy as ‘ridiculous' amid escalating Iran-Israel crisis

Sky News AU

15 hours ago

The opposition has described Foreign Minister Penny Wong's calls for diplomacy in the Middle East as 'ridiculous' given Iran and Israel have had no diplomatic relations since 1979.
The Albanese government's calls for 'restraint and dialogue' in the conflict between Iran and Israel have been branded naive and 'ridiculous' by senior opposition figures.
Chair of the of Senate's Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee Dave Sharma told Sky News on Monday that dialogue had so far failed and that 'the war will continue'.
Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes said it was 'absolutely ridiculous' for Australia to call for talks between Iran and Israel, two nations with no diplomatic relations since 1979.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong contacted Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Monday to urge 'de-escalation and restraint' according to a readout of the meeting.
Mr Sharma acknowledged it was common for countries to call for diplomacy, but suggested such words failed to yield results.
'Part of the reason for this war is the failure of dialogue. There have been multiple rounds of negotiations held with Iran,' Mr Sharma told Sky News.
'I don't see much prospect for dialogue. I'm not calling for escalation but I'm also mindful that both sides now have key national interests at stake.
'That war will continue whilst those national interests are being prosecuted or defended.'
Iran adopted a sharp anti-Israel stance in 1979 after the Islamic Revolution.
Ms Hughes, who will leave the parliament in July, described calls for dialogue and diplomacy as 'ridiculous'.
'It's absolutely ridiculous…for Australia's foreign minister to call for some sort of talk fest,' she said, adding that Iran and Israel have had 'no dialogue' for four decades.
'We know that Iran has employed many, many proxies and has called for the annihilation of Israel.
'I think everyone would like to see the current bombing to cease, but the reality is Iran cannot become a nuclear power.' — Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) June 11, 2025
Israel said it launched the first wave of strikes against Iran to wipe out its program to develop nuclear weapons.
The conflict has since escalated, with Iran launching several rounds of retaliatory strikes targeting Israeli civilians.
Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon defended the military response as necessary on Sunday.
'History has shown what happens when the world ignores regimes that preach hatred, promise annihilation, and are left to build the means to carry it out,' he said.
'Israel cannot afford the illusion that existential threats are empty words. We have a duty to act, to protect our people.'
Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed that all Australian Defence Force personnel and embassy staff in both Tehran and Tel Aviv were safe.
'There are actually thousands of Australians who are in both Iran and Israel,' Mr Marles told Sky News on Monday.
'Right now, airspace over Iran and Israel is closed, so our message to them is to shelter in place… and to watch very closely the Smart Traveller website.'
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to advise Australians 'do not travel' to either country.
Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite reiterated that Australia was not involved in the conflict but would continue urging calm.
'We want to make sure that we de-escalate this, that we do try and return to dialogue,' he said.
'We're not planning to be involved in this conflict at all.'