Latest news with #Downer
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Humiliating': Former foreign minister Alexander Downer tears apart Albanese government's stance on Israel and Iran conflict
Former foreign minister Alexander Downer has slammed the Albanese government's response regarding the escalating situation in the Middle East, calling the stance taken towards Iran and Israel 'embarrassing'. Foreign Minister Penny Wong previously called for 'de-escalation' after Iranian military and nuclear targets were struck last week, with her remarks being echoed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles. Ms Wong has since changed her tone regarding the conflict and has urged Iran to discontinue its nuclear ambitions. Mr Downer called the Albanese government's position on the crisis, as well as other issues in the Middle East, 'just an embarrassment'. Speaking to Sky News Host Chris Kenny on Thursday, the former foreign minister blasted the government over language used, taking particular aim at the 'de-escalation' calls. 'They're humiliating our country with these sorts of words. Of course, de-escalation isn't the solution. The solution is to destroy any capacity Iran has to launch nuclear missiles at Israel,' Mr Downer said. '... De-escalation is utterly meaningless, utterly meaningless. And by saying things like that, the Australian government is making itself a laughing stock in Jerusalem, and nobody in Tehran cares what they say either. Australia is playing itself into a position of complete international irrelevance by saying these sorts of things.' He called for a clearer stance to be taken toward the conflict and for Australia's official position on Iran's nuclear program to be less ambiguous. 'Instead of berating the Israelis and demanding they agree to a two-state solution, berate the Iranians and demand that they accept Israel's right to exist,' Mr Downer said. Meanwhile, Israel's Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said he has not directly asked the Australian government to overtly back Israel's actions in the conflict. 'We are not waiting for the international community to support Israel. We decided to launch the pre-emptive attack as Iran poses an immediate and imminent existential threat,' Mr Maimon told Sky News Host Chris Kenny on Thursday evening. The ambassador said in a media briefing earlier on Thursday that 'hiccups' had occurred in the relationship between Australia and the Jewish state. 'It is true that since May 2022, we see a shift in some Israeli-related policies,' Mr Maimon said, regarding the Albanese government's stance to Israel. 'We still consider Australia as a friendly country. There are hiccups in our relationship. It's only normal. I think that it's true about every country.
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Labor ‘humiliating' Australia with response to Iran-Israel war
Former foreign minister Alexander Downer discusses Labor's 'humiliating' response to the Iran-Israel war. 'Australia is playing itself into a position of complete international irrelevance,' Mr Downer told Sky News host Chris Kenny. 'I just find it embarrassing … almost humiliating.'
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
America unlikely to send ground troops to Iran if attack occurs
Former foreign minister Alexander Downer says America will not be likely to send ground troops into Iran if they attack. 'There is no way the Americans would have any intention of sending ground troops into Iran and trying to change the regime,' Mr Downer told Sky News host Chris Kenny. 'They certainly will not do that.'
Sky News AU
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Where does it end?': Australia's sanctions on Israeli ministers slammed
Former foreign minister Alexander Downer discusses Australia's decision to put sanctions on two Israeli ministers. 'There have been various offers of two-state solutions to the Palestinians from 1948 onwards, and they have always rejected those offers,' Mr Downer told Sky News host Chris Kenny. 'This idea of sanctioning individual ministers in a liberal democracy … I think it's an extraordinary decision. 'It sets a whole set of new precedents … where does it end?'
Sky News AU
12-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
US ‘concerned' about Australia's defence spending amid AUKUS review
Former foreign minister Alexander Downer discusses the Pentagon's review of the AUKUS deal, suggesting the US may be 'concerned' about Australia's level of defence spending. 'I think they would be concerned about our low level of defence expenditure and the way the Australian Defence Force has become increasingly depleted,' Mr Downer told Sky News host Chris Kenny. 'I don't think, in the end, the Americans are going to cancel the AUKUS program.'
