Via The Australian:
Scott Morrison has dismissed Malcolm Turnbull’s concerns about moving Australia’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, declaring Australia “decides what our foreign policy is and only Australia.”
…Mr Turnbull said last night at the Our Ocean conference in Bali that Australia must consult with nearby Muslim-majority neighbours before moving the embassy to Jerusalem.
“There is no question, were that move to occur, it would be met with a very negative reaction in Indonesia. This is after all the largest Muslim-majority country in the world,” Mr Turnbull told reporters.
“We have to be very clear-eyed about that, and we have to take into account Australia’s national interests, and our interests in the region, when we consider a decision like this.”
Just back out you idiot. Nobody was told let alone consulted, via ABC:
Top officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) were not consulted by the Prime Minister before he announced he was contemplating moving Australia’s embassy in Israel.
During Senate estimates hearings in Canberra today, Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong grilled Foreign Minister Marise Payne and DFAT’s Secretary Frances Adamson about the decision-making process.
Senator Payne said she first learned the Prime Minister wanted to review the policy when he rang her on Sunday, two days before the announcement.
Ms Adamson said she was told about the announcement early on Monday afternoon, and confirmed her department wasn’t consulted by the Prime Minister or Foreign Minister before the decision was made.
This is wantonly raising terrorism risk for Australians because of ScoMo’s personal beliefs.
