Peter Dutton calls for Penny Wong’s sacking over UNRWA funding saga

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has called for the Prime Minister to sack Foreign Minister Penny Wong on her stance that funding to UNRWA may eventually be restored. UNRWA has received Australian funding every year since 1951, with another $6 million having been pledged last month. Israeli intelligence documents alleged that some staff members of UNRWA were involved in the Hamas attacks on October 7 – which led Australia and several other nations to suspend funding. On Thursday, at a press conference, Ms Wong indicated it was her view that UNRWA funding may be eventually restored as it is the only organisation in the international system which provides substantive humanitarian aid for those in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Mr Dutton took aim at the stance, saying Anthony Albanese needs to show “strength of leadership” and cut off funding to UNRWA funding permanently.