The Coalition continues to call for tangible action by the Government in response to violence and human rights abuses in Iran.

In Senate Question Time today, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Claire Chandler, asked Minister Wong why Australia is lagging well behind our allies in placing sanctions on regime officials, individuals and entities responsible for the violent suppression of protests and the killing of civilians.

Since the death of Mahsa Jina Amini in September, nations including the US, UK and Canada have implemented multiple rounds of sanctions against such individuals. The Coalition has made clear to the Government that we will provide bipartisan support for Australia to do the same.

The Iranian community in Australia has been calling loudly for action by the Government for many weeks now, and there is a huge level of frustration about Australia being yet to take any tangible actions in response to the killings of women, children and protesters in Iran.

The reports of the use of heavy artillery and military forces against civilians within Iran in recent days are horrific and further increase the urgency of the international community applying pressure on the regime and holding perpetrators of deadly violence against civilians to account.

In addition to the unacceptable and abhorrent violence being carried out by authorities in Iran, the Iranian Government has been supplying drones to Russia which are being used to kill civilians in Ukraine. Western intelligence agencies including MI5 in the UK have revealed that Iranian intelligence agents have attempted to kidnap and kill Iranians living in western countries who criticise the Iranian regime. Each of these actions is totally unacceptable and must not only be condemned, but be responded to with tangible action.

The Coalition calls for the Government not to delay any further an announcement of actions that Australia will take, including targeted sanctions.