Australia’s foreign-policy tension deepens as Wong condemns Ley over Palestine recognition

Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday accused Opposition Leader Sussan Ley of running a rogue foreign policy and undermining the government over Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations, signaling a sustained clash over the country’s diplomatic approach.

Wong’s remarks followed revelations that Ley personally engaged with Israel and with Republican lawmakers in the United States after the Albanese government backed Palestinian recognition at the UN. Leaked Coalition briefing notes show Ley also wrote to several U.S. Republicans—assuring them that the decision did not reflect the views of most Australians and would be subject to future review if a Coalition government were elected. The communiques came after Israel’s government arranged a phone call between Ley and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar just hours after the Australian vote.

In a separate strand of the unfolding controversy, 25 Republican officials, including allies of former President Trump, issued statements casting the recognition as a reckless move that undermines prospects for peace. The White House had signaled that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would not be meeting with Trump at the UN, though Albanese did hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the General Assembly.

Wong spoke to ABC Radio National, urging unity in foreign affairs and noting that Australians expect bipartisanship on diplomacy. “It is possible to back Australia and still be an effective opposition,” she said. “We know we’re strongest when we speak with one voice. And really, it’s time that Ms Ley and the Liberals understood that too.” She described Ley’s intervention as not in the nation’s interests and said bipartisan support in diplomacy is essential.

The dispute has fed into a broader debate about how Australia should navigate recognition of states and the treatment of Israel and the Palestinian territories on the world stage. Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash criticized Albanese’s UN address, arguing that comparing the Palestinian cause to the Jewish historical struggle was flawed and offensive, and that recognizing a body without addressing its legitimacy would entrench division rather than foster peace. Cash added that recognizing such a body without conditions effectively rewards violence and hostage-taking in the region.

Ley has pledged that a future Coalition government would reverse the Palestinian recognition, arguing that recognition should come only after Hamas is removed from power and other conditions are met. Her stance sits in contrast to the government’s position and has provoked internal debate within the opposition about how aggressively to pursue a reversal if they win power.

Anthony Albanese has defended Australia’s approach on the UN stage, though this week’s events have highlighted fault lines within Australia’s political leadership on foreign policy. Albanese’s schedule at the UN included meetings with Macron and Carney and a broader push to rally international support for Australia’s stance, while he declined a face-to-face meeting with Trump during the assembly.

Other voices weighed in on the rift. Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg criticized the administration, saying Australia was being treated “like a piece of dirt” by the United States under the current government and calling Albanese’s diplomacy a disaster. Thrown into the mix, Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite defended the prime minister, arguing that it could be advantageous that the two leaders would not meet in New York. He noted that Australia’s tariff rate of 10 percent remains lower than many other nations’ and suggested the president is pursuing broader trade deals that do not require formal conversations with Canberra.

Australia’s stance on Palestinian statehood and the ensuing diplomatic friction come at a moment of heightened scrutiny of how governments balance alliances and ethical considerations in a complex Middle East landscape. While Canberra emphasizes engagement and the goal of achieving a negotiated peace, opposition figures contend that unilateral recognition risked compromising Australia’s credibility with partners and affected regional dynamics in ways that could hinder lasting stability.

As the UN General Assembly period continues, observers say the episode will likely influence Australia’s foreign-policy debates for months to come, with critics warning that internal political divisions could complicate Australia’s posture on international diplomacy at a moment when allied countries are recalibrating their own approaches to Israel, the Palestinians and the broader region.