Wong: Recognition stands, conditions or not
Officials conceded they could not assess two of the five conditions, and were unable to say whether DFAT ever judged the PA likely to deliver on any of them
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has confirmed the government will not revoke its recognition of Palestinian statehood regardless of whether the Palestinian Authority meets the commitments that underpinned it.
Australia announced its intention to recognise a Palestinian state in August last year and formally recognised it at the UN General Assembly the following month. The recognition took into account Palestinian Authority (PA) commitments to reform governance, terminate prisoner payments, institute schooling reforms, demilitarise, and hold general elections.
At Senate estimates on Wednesday, shadow defence minister James Paterson asked whether there were any circumstances in which recognition would be revoked.
“No, we have recognised the state of Palestine,” Wong said.
“It’s not a precondition, then, is it?” Paterson replied.
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