‘Moral fog’: Peter Dutton’s swipe at Penny Wong over Palestine comments

Peter Dutton has blasted Penny Wong over her comments about a possible Palestinian state.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says Penny Wong’s speech suggesting the possible future recognition of a Palestinian state is the “most reckless act” by a Foreign Minister in two decades.

In a speech on Wednesday night, Mr Dutton also said Senator Wong had added to “a national moral fog, which has made anti-Semitism permissible”.

While Senator Wong did not commit Australia to recognise a Palestinian state during her speech on Tuesday night, she did say recognising Palestinian statehood would help “build momentum towards a two-state solution” with Israel.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says Penny Wong has added to “a national moral fog, which has made anti-Semitism permissible”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Appleyard

Mr Dutton, who has stood firmly by Israel since the October 7 attack by Hamas, told a Liberal Party fundraiser event in Sydney that a two-state solution was not conceivable until Hamas was gone.

“This reality makes the Foreign Minister’s remarks last night utterly illogical, ill-timed and inappropriate,” Mr Dutton said.

“For a crass domestic political win, Penny Wong has irreparably damaged our relations with our ally Israel – an ally who has shared intelligence with us and thwarted terrorist attacks against our own interests, including against members of the Australian Defence Force.

“It is the most reckless act of a Foreign Minister I have seen in my 22 years in the parliament, and it has weakened our international standing.”

Mr Dutton further accused the government of allowing “an anti-Semitic rot afflicting our nation, our society, and our institutions”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also called for a two-state solution but said Hamas must not have any role in a future Palestinian state, describing it as a terrorist organisation.

When asked about Mr Dutton’s comments, Mr Albanese said it was “just more nasty negativity from Peter Dutton.”

“That is something that’s been Australia’s longstanding policy and it’s something I have been very consistent on for a long period of time,” he told Seven on Thursday.

“But Hamas can play no role in a future state. We have made that very clear as well. As has the rest of the Western world.”