Scott Morrison, Bill Shorten trade barbs over Israel embassy

Scott Morrison hits back at the Opposition Leader who accuses the PM of making Australia look “stupid’’ over the Israeli embassy.

Scott Morrison, left, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at a bilateral meeting during the 2018 ASEAN Summit in Singapore. Picture: AAP

Scott Morrison has accused Bill Shorten of “taking cues on Australia’s foreign policy” from external powers, after the Opposition Leader said the Prime Minister’s Israel policy is making the country “look stupid”.

Mr Shorten called on Mr Morrison to rule out moving Australia’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem after Indonesia’s trade minister said it was delaying the signing of a free trade agreement.

Mr Morrison said he had a process in place to consider whether the move was in Australia’s interest, and attacked Mr Shorten for not considering moving the embassy at all.

“I’m disappointed the Leader of the Opposition would be so quick to take cues on Australia’s foreign policy from those outside Australia,” he told reporters in Singapore.

“Bill Shorten doesn’t want to consider this question at all.

“He then says there should be a process, and when the government engages in a process, he says we shouldn’t follow the process. I will leave it to Bill Shorten to explain the contradiction of that position.”

Reports emerged today that the Prime Minister has told colleagues he regrets announcing the Israeli embassy review before the Wentworth by-election last month.

Mr Morrison did not confirm today when he will ultimately arrive at a decision on moving the embassy. He had suggested yesterday that he will make a decision by Christmas.

“We will wait and see ...All I have said is that we will consider the matter,” he said.

Mr Shorten said earlier today that Mr Morrison should immediately announce the embassy would stay in Tel Aviv to avoid any more strain in Australia-Indonesia relations.

“Frankly he made himself look stupid and made our country look stupid,” he told reporters in regional Victoria.

“I don’t see why this nation has to wait until Christmas so Mr Morrison can climb off his high horse.

“Let’s just get on with it. No shame in admitting you’re wrong, and let’s just let get onto the next issue, including improving our trade opportunities in our region.”

Mr Morrison said yesterday that a decision over whether to move the embassy could be made by Christmas, and that any final decision would be guided by his commitment to a two-state solution.

He also told reporters at the ASEAN summit in Singapore that Indonesian President Joko Widodo had not linked the free trade agreement with the location of Australia’s Israeli embassy in bilateral talks.

Indonesia’s trade minister Enggartiasto Lukita told reporters at the ASEAN summit in Singapore that the delay in signing a free-trade agreement with Australia is due to the embassy issue.

“It can be signed anytime, but when you will sign it … depends on Australia’s position” he told reporters at the East Asia Summit in Singapore.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi enforced that “if Australia insists on moving its embassy to Jerusalem, the signing will be delayed,” Mr Lukita reportedly added.

Mr Morrison told reporters yesterday that President Widodo had not linked trade and the Israeli embassy in their bilateral discussions.

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said this morning that moving the embassy in Israel was not in the national interest if it harmed relations with Indonesia.

“No country should dictate Australia’s foreign policy. Australia’s foreign policy should be determined by looking carefully and responsibly at the national interest. And that has not happened here,” she told ABC radio.

“The reality is the Indonesian trade minister has made very clear the delay in finalising this agreement, or signing, is the government’s position on Palestine.

“He (Mr Morrison) needs to accept he made the wrong judgment and finalise the government’s position and return to the bipartisan position which Mr Turnbull, Julie Bishop and many others in the Liberal Party have had for decades.”

“Why wait until Christmas?”