Foreign Minister Penny Wong has launched a scathing attack on One Nation following a heated parliamentary exchange where a senator from the party questioned the Prime Minister's security arrangements during a visit to Lakemba Mosque. The confrontation occurred during Question Time this week when Senator Malcolm Roberts raised the March 20 incident involving Anthony Albanese.
Chaotic Mosque Visit Sparks Parliamentary Clash
The controversy stems from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke attending Eid prayers at Lakemba Mosque. During the event, parts of the crowd became hostile, with worshippers shouting "Get out!" and accusing the Prime Minister of being a "genocide supporter." One man was heard yelling "putrid dog" as security personnel rushed Albanese away from the surging crowd.
Roberts Questions Security Arrangements
Senator Malcolm Roberts used video footage of the incident to question whether the Prime Minister felt safe during the visit. "Videos posted of the incident show, by my count, 20 people in the security team, including uniformed officers from NSW Police who took up a position inside," Roberts stated during the parliamentary session.
Roberts claimed that Albanese had "never needed a 20-person security detail to attend a Christian church" or meet "everyday Australians," suggesting the heavy protection indicated safety concerns at Lakemba. He echoed One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's recent comments that the suburb was "unwelcoming," asking: "If the Prime Minister organized a 20-person security detail, doesn't that prove the Prime Minister believed Lakemba mosque was not a safe place for him to visit?"
Wong's Fiery Response
Penny Wong fired back immediately, telling Roberts: "I'm sorry, I disagree with most of what is included in your question." She acknowledged that many Australians were "rightly distressed by the conflict in Gaza, the loss of life," but insisted politicians should avoid "turning up the temperature" or "making people angry."
Wong defended Albanese's mosque visit as an act of leadership, stating: "It is a good thing for the Prime Minister of the country to go to a mosque and to engage with Australian Muslims. That is about our social cohesion." She added that Australians should "work to protect a society where we can have differences of views without anger, and without division."
Escalation Over 'Radical Islam' Claim
The exchange escalated when Roberts pushed further, asking: "My question was about whether or not the Prime Minister felt safe. Is it true, Minister, that social cohesion in the hands of the Albanese government simply means surrendering to radical Islam?"
This question prompted Wong to unleash on the Liberal Party for preferencing One Nation in the South Australian election, a move expected to help the party secure up to four lower-house seats. "I do hope that members of the Liberal Party listen to that question and recognize that the result in South Australia is fueled by your preferences," Wong snapped. "You are delivering them votes and seats. I hope you think about that. The party that is now cannibalizing you, you are fueling their support."
Defending 'Everyday Australians'
Wong also challenged Roberts' characterization of "everyday Australians," stating emphatically: "Everyday Australians come from all walks of life, all faiths, all backgrounds. Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, members of the Jewish community."
Despite the parliamentary uproar, Prime Minister Albanese later downplayed the mosque confrontation, insisting the visit was "incredibly positive" aside from "a couple of hecklers in a crowd of 30,000." The incident has highlighted ongoing tensions around political engagement with diverse communities and security concerns at public events.
