Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
TRANSCRIPT
Sky News with Sharri Markson
14 August 2025
Topics: Hamas praise for Albanese; Palestinian state recognition
E&OE
Sharri Markson
I’m pleased to say Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash joins me now. Thank you so much for your time. Well, how much do you think the Prime Minister, and Penny Wong as well, are trashing our foreign policy?
Senator Cash
Well, they’ve handed Hamas a political victory. That is not foreign policy Sharri, that is appeasement. I mean, they have been praised by terrorists, people who kidnap and kill Israelis and other people. I mean, who would have thought in Australia that we would reach the day where a Prime Minister of this country was praised by a terrorist organisation who does not hold the same values as Australians? And yet, the 13th of August 2025 will now go down in history. This is now Mr. Albanese’s legacy. And quite frankly, Sharri he should hang his head in shame.
Sharri Markson
You know, just his response today, Michaelia, you know, he doubled down on his claim that Hamas didn’t want Palestinian recognition, even as more Hamas terrorists were coming out. One gave a statement to the ABC. There were others giving statements to other media outlets, and they were all applauding him. He’s just not acknowledging the reality of the situation.
Senator Cash
Well, it’s actually worse than that. Shari, the Prime Minister of Australia today, got up in front of the media and tried to deliberately deceive the Australian people. But worse than that, he tried to throw a journalist under a bus. The journalist has stood by the story. They received a statement from the Office of Hassan Yousef, the co founder of Hamas. But not only that, the ABC have a statement from the media director of Hamas openly praising Mr. Albanese. I mean, what did Mr. Albanese think was going to happen? You have given the terrorists what they wanted. I mean, as they said, the recognition of a Palestinian state was one of the fruits of October the seventh, 2023. Mr. Albanese, you have rewarded terrorists and how dare you seek to deceive the Australian people by saying that was not true. What a joke. Sorry, what a joke.
Sharri Markson
He also accused the media in that press conference of buying into Hamas propaganda.
Senator Cash
Shocking, isn’t it?
Sharri Markson
Albanese who swallowed Hamas propaganda when it comes to claims that Israel is to blame for the suffering in Gaza and when he quotes, well, the death toll as well, which doesn’t take into account.
Senator Cash
This is Mr. Albanese problem’s, correct. This is now Mr. Albanese’s problem. Since October the seventh, he has told Australians that what Hamas says is the truth. Figures that are released by Hamas ministries – they are the truth. And then suddenly, when Hamas come out and say: well done, Mr. Albanese, congratulations for actually rewarding us, just what we wanted following October the seventh, thank you for giving us exactly what we wanted – it’s propaganda. Come on, is that a joke? Sharri you don’t get to have it both ways. But in any event, it doesn’t matter what Mr. Albanese said today at his press conferences, because he was exposed by the truth, and the truth is not just one member of Hamas, Sharri, as you articulated, it is now terrorist after terrorist after terrorist coming out and praising the Prime Minister of Australia. And as I said, the 13th of August 2025 will now go down in history as Mr. Albanese’s legacy, and it is not a legacy to be proud of. It is, quite frankly, a turning point in Australian foreign policy.
Sharri Markson
Yeah, a shameful one, indeed. Now, Michaelia, you and your colleagues in Shadow Cabinet this week decided that you would reverse the policy if you are ever back in government, in a position to do so? Do you think that other nations, you know, the UK, Canada and France, when they have because at the moment, the leadership, particularly in Europe, very left leaning? Do you think when there are conservative governments back in place, those positions might be reversed there as well?
Senator Cash
Well, Sharri, actually, it’s a really good question. But I would say this. I would hope that when Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, who has been involved incredibly closely in the ceasefire negotiations, stands up and says to the world, the day that President Macron of France stood up and said that France is recognising the state of Palestine, or a Palestinian state, is the day that Hamas walked away from the cease fire negotiations in Doha. I would hope that other countries who are also taking this step, have a look at the praise that is now being lavished on them by the terrorists themselves. So I would hope that countries do come to their senses. I would hope that Mr. Albanese comes to his sense. You know, I don’t have a problem if Mr. Albanese stands up tomorrow Sharri and says, I made a mistake. I made a mistake – we will not proceed at the United Nations with the recognition of a Palestinian state. But the problem is, he won’t. It doesn’t matter that the terrorists are praising the Prime Minister of Australia, because, as you and I know, this is now Mr. Albanese delivering on one of his university day dreams. He has waited for this day to come. I am so sorry, Sharri, because I know that you are Jewish. I am so sorry that it is October the seventh that has now landed us in this situation. But as I said, this is now Mr. Albanese’s legacy, the 13th of August 2025 and he should hang his head in shame.
Sharri Markson
Yeah, and I really appreciate those comments Michaelia, and not just for me, but for all Jewish Australians who I have to tell you, are finding it really, really difficult to live under this pro-Palestinian government. It’s worse than anyone could have ever imagined. It’s a massive betrayal. It’s extraordinary. I mean, you know they criticise Israel and have done so for a long time. More than they criticise Hamas, and while hostages are literally dying in war crimes in tunnels. It’s, you know, what can you say? This is, this is the government we’re living with. I don’t know how we ended up with this government, with these two left wing advocates running the show.
Senator Cash
What can we say Sharri. We can actually say to all Australians yesterday was a turning point for the next three years. We now need to ensure that for the next three years we stand up for Australian values and we stand against Mr. Albanese and this left wing terrorist appeasing government, quite frankly. So we all now have a job to do, and we need to bring Australians with us. Enough is enough, Albanese has to go. And let’s get back to respecting Australian value.
Sharri Markson
Indeed, indeed, which is empathy and tolerance for everyone, and not this racism that has come to define our country in which we’re becoming famous for internationally. It’s such an embarrassment. Michaelia Cash really appreciate your time and support. Thank you very much.
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