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August 8, 2024
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".
The tweets caused immediate outcry, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong labelling them "repugnant" and confirming her department had formally addressed the comments with Iran's ambassador.
Speaking to Sky News Australia on Thursday morning, Mr Albanese echoed that sentiment, saying the posts were "completely unacceptable," but declining to back calls to remove Mr Sadeghi from the country.
"It's also important that we have relations in Australia's interests and we continue to do that whilst condemning the comments that have been made," he said.
However, Senator Paterson argued the posts warranted more than a "mild rhetorical rebuke," claiming Mr Albanese needed to take a harder line.
"The Prime Minister has said what the Iranian ambassador has said it anti-Semitic, the Foreign Minister has said that they are repugnant and yet what are they actually doing about it?" he asked Sky News Australia after Mr Albanese spoke.
"Other than the most mild rhetorical rebuke from a DFAT bureaucrat there have been no consequences for the ambassador and this is not his first offence, he's been saying things like this for months.
"They've done nothing about it. There has to be meaningful consequences otherwise he will continue."
Senator Paterson's comments echo that of his Liberal colleague and shadow foreign affairs minister Simon Birmingham, who had argued on Monday the government needed to assess whether Mr Sadeghi had broken Australia's hate speech laws.
Others in the opposition have also condemned the ambassador's remarks, calling for him to be formally expelled from the country.
The government, however, has dismissed those calls, with Senator Wong explaining Iran was allowed to maintain its diplomatic presence because it was important to have a formal line of communication between the two countries.
On Thursday, though, Senator Paterson suggested some within the Labor Party were too connected to Iran's ambassador, challenging Mr Albanese to address ties between Mr Sadeghi and an up and coming party member.
"We also have an aspiring candidate of the Prime Minister's for the Labor Party palling around with this ambassador, hanging out with him and frankly showing very poor judgement," he said.
"What will the Prime Minister do about that?"
Senator Paterson did not name the candidate in question, but reports this week suggested former New South Wales MP Shaoquett Moselmane had attended a gala dinner in "honour" of Mr Sadeghi in July.
Mr Moselmane, who had his home raided in 2020 as part of an ASIO foreign interference probe, is attempting to contest preselection for the seat of Barton and has been vocal in his opposition to Israel, joining a pro-Palestine protest outside NSW Premier Chris Minns' office in November last year.
The 59-year-old has said he was unaware of Mr Sadeghi's comments.
