Government criticised over weak response to Iranian ambassador's repugnant remarks

Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson has criticised the Albanese government’s handling following an inflammatory tweet made by Iran’s Ambassador to Australia. Ahmad Sadeghi on Saturday posted a series of messages supporting the militant group Hamas and labelling the destruction of Israel "a heavenly and divine promise". Mr Paterson claimed that the Albanese government needed to take a stronger approach than just a “mild rhetorical rebuke”. “Well, the Prime Minister has said that what the Iranian ambassador said is anti-Semitic. The Foreign Minister has said that they are repugnant, and yet what are they actually doing about it other than the most mild rhetorical rebuke from a DFAT bureaucrat,” Mr Paterson said. “There've been no consequences for the ambassador. “There has to be meaningful consequences; otherwise, it will continue.”