FOI FM 2324-11 Document 01
Statement to the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Plenary Session on dealing with ongoing
international tensions
SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER Minister for Finance
Minister for Women
Minister for the Public Service
Senator for the ACT
Date
Wednesday, 21 February 2024
Thank you very much, Chair. And I thank Brazil for leading an ambitious and action-oriented G20
agenda, and for the warm welcome we have received in Rio de Janeiro – one of the world’s great
cities and the site of Australia’s first Embassy in Latin America, established in 1946. At the
outset, I want to also welcome the African Union as a permanent G20 member. Australia looks
forward to your contributions. Increased African representation is vital to jointly address the
most urgent global challenges.
Australia recognises the G20 as the premier forum for global economic cooperation on shared
chal enges, and for pursuing strong, sustainable, and inclusive growth. Growth which lifts living
standards across our societies and creates secure, wel -paid jobs. The strongest foundation for
this growth is peace and stability. I have heard it said that the G20 is not the right place to
discuss geopolitical issues and that it should stick to economic matters. On the contrary, the
people in this room – with over 30 country representatives – are exactly the right people to
discuss the conflicts and tensions that have significant impact on al our economies, affecting
mil ions of people.
The G20 has a global leadership role, and we can only solve our biggest chal enges as a group.
By listening to each other and by acting together, al of us can choose to shape the world for the
better. I thank our host, Brazil, and the Troika members India and South Africa for their
thoughtful contribution.
Australia is deeply alarmed by the conflict in the Middle East. The humanitarian catastrophe is
dire and worsening. We repeat our condemnation of Hamas and its abhorrent October 7
attacks. The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian
civilians. Australia reiterates our cal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and humanitarian
access, the release of hostages and for the protection of civilians. We urge al parties to prevent
regional escalation.
We reiterate our grave concerns about the potential of a major Israeli ground offensive in Rafah.
This would bring further devastation to more than a mil ion civilians seeking shelter, many there
by Israel’s direction. Australia believes this would be unjustifiable, and we say again to Israel: do
not go down this path.
There is no lasting peace or security for the region that doesn’t start with al sides respecting
each other’s right to exist. There is no lasting peace or security for the region without a
Palestinian state alongside an Israeli state.
As we approach two years since Russia’s ful -scale invasion, Australia repeats our cal s for
Russia to immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine. The invasion and its associated
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suffering must end. If we hesitate in our response, we would be validating the most fundamental
of breaches of international law by a P5 member. For this reason, Australia wil continue to work
with partners to ensure that those providing materiel support to Russia face consequences.
Security threats reverberate global y and impact us al . Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had far-
reaching economic consequences, including for Australia and our Indo-Pacific neighbours.
How we – as the G20 – respond matters.
Australia mourns the tragic death of Alexei Navalny, a courageous force for democracy in
Russia, whose treatment was unforgiveable. Our thoughts are with Mr Navalny’s family and the
people of Russia. We hold the Russian government solely responsible for his mistreatment and
death.
More broadly, the risk of sharpening competition between major powers spil ing into conflict is
increasing. As established international rules and norms that have underwritten stability and
prosperity come under growing pressure, the possibility of such conflict is no longer
inconceivable. Strategic competition is not a new development, but with unprecedented
economic interdependence and the destructive potential of new technologies, never have the
stakes been so high.
We need to commit anew to reinforcing preventive architecture to reduce the risk of crisis,
conflict, and war by accident. In our region – the Indo-Pacific – there is unprecedented military
build-up, yet transparency and strategic reassurance are lacking. It is up to al of us to act to
minimise the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation to prevent catastrophic conflict.
This is why Australia is contributing to a strategic regional balance that keeps the peace in the
Indo-Pacific. We seek to strengthen measures for conflict prevention that reinforce the region’s
existing economic and security architecture. We are helping to maintain the conditions for
peace through our diplomacy – while playing our part in contributing, openly and transparently,
to col ective deterrence of aggression.
We seek a region and a world where no country dominates, and no country is dominated. This is
also why Australia remains steadfast in our commitment to the multilateral system with the
United Nations at its heart. Al countries have a stake in the UN Charter and must exercise their
agency to uphold it. Australia has always pursued a world where differences and disputes are
settled through institutions and agreed rules and norms – not by power and size.
We must also not lose sight of other global chal enges. Climate change is happening faster than
our combined efforts to stop it. The Pacific region is on the frontline of climate change. This
makes it more important than ever that Pacific leaders are heard to inform global solutions.
Australia has substantial y increased our support for climate finance. This includes supporting
the Pacific’s own climate finance solution having announced $100 mil ion for the Pacific
Resilience Facility.
Among other chal enges, we know humanitarian needs are increasing. Australia is part of the
global response. In the last twelve months we provided humanitarian assistance for more than
twenty crises when the UN requested international support.
Australia is steadfastly committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – as the
best chance to col ectively end poverty and hunger everywhere; combat inequalities; and build
just, prosperous, and inclusive societies. With just under seven years left, the time is now to
double down on concrete implementation to deliver on what we agreed. That is why Australia is
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providing record international development investments to meet partners’ needs in line with the
SDGs.
I want to thank Brazil again for its leadership and Australia looks forward to continuing the
agenda with President Lula throughout Brazil’s presidency.
[ENDS]
Media Contact(s)
Gallagher.Media@finance.gov.au
Senator the Hon Katy Gal agher, Minister for Finance
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THE SENATE
BUSINESS
Rearrangement
SPEECH
Monday, 26 February 2024
BY AUTHORITY OF THE SENATE
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SPEECH
Date Monday, 26 February 2024
Source Senate
Page 357
Proof No
Questioner
Responder
Speaker Gallagher, Sen Katy
Question No.
Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Finance,
Minister for Women, Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Vice-President of the Executive
Council) (10:27): It's of deep regret that the Senate continues to face suspension motions like this from the Greens
political party, who are clearly only looking for ways to use this crisis to whip up anger to gain votes. We heard
that in the presentation from Senator Steele-John, who perpetuates incorrect statements. We have not sold arms
to Israel. We have increased funding for multiple agencies in Palestine. Don't come in here and try to whip it
up, as you have done in previous sittings. How about the Senate work together on a pathway for peace and on
keeping our community unified? It's clearly not what you want, but that is the responsible approach from an
Australian government and an Australian parliament.
We are a respected voice on the conflict in the Middle East, even if we're not a central player in it. The government
is using Australia's voice to advocate for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and humanitarian access, the
release of hostages and the protection of civilians. If the Greens were really concerned about the crisis in the
Middle East, they would be engaged in the discussions for a pathway to peace and keeping our community
unified. They continue to reproduce the conflict here to whip up anger and fear and to perpetuate myths in the
Australian community because they think there are votes in it for them. I remind the Greens that right now there
are 130 hostages still being held by the terrorist group Hamas. They have been since 7 October, when 1,200
Israelis and foreigners were killed in attacks.
Senator Faruqi: Thirty thousand Palestinians are dead.
Senator GALLAGHER: If you stop yelling at me, I will go on that we are faced with reports from the UN that
400,000 Palestinians in Gaza are starving and a million are at risk of starvation. An estimated 1.7 million people
in Gaza are internally displaced, and there are increasingly few safe places for Palestinians to go.
With the humanitarian situation in Gaza already dire, the casualties from an expanded military operation would
be devastating. Australia's message to Israel is to not go down this path. Our position on this is consistent with
our position the whole way through this conflict, which has been that international humanitarian law must be
respected and civilians must be protected. We have communicated this at a senior level. In recognising Israel's
right to defend itself, we have said that the way it does so matters. Israel must respect international humanitarian
law. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected.
There are more than a million civilians sheltering in and around Rafah. Many civilians who are displaced in
Israeli operations in the north have moved to the south to this area, often under Israeli direction. We are not alone
in expressing concern at the prospect of an expansive Israeli military operation in Rafah. The United States has
said it will be a disaster and should not proceed without a credible plan for ensuring safety for the more than
one million people sheltering there. Germany has said it would be a humanitarian catastrophe. Canada has said
it would have a devastating impact. We have consistently said there is no place in Australia for antisemitism,
Islamophobia or prejudice or hatred of any kind. We must all work together to ensure that the distress in our
community does not turn into hatred.
An honourable senator interjecting—
Senator GALLAGHER: Well, the Australian government has made these comments, and I know you say it's just
words, Senator Steele-John, but we have made these comments. The foreign minister has made these comments
at the highest level. I have made these comments last week at the foreign ministers meeting in Brazil. People
are speaking out. People are concerned. What's happening is incredibly distressing. But do you think coming
in here and perpetuating myths in this chamber about what the Australian government is doing is going to help
one little bit? Do you seriously think so? How about you act like grown-ups and work with us on the serious
matters that present in the Middle East—work together on a credible pathway to peace, which is what responsible
CHAMBER
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international actors are doing, speak out against further civilian loss of life and look at ways that we can support
the humanitarian efforts in the Middle East? We have increased funding, not decreased it. We are not selling
arms to Israel. You should not repeat those claims in this chamber when you know that they are not true. We
should all in this chamber work together on that pathway to peace.
CHAMBER
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Document Outline
