00:00This is the first time since World War II where Australia has moved to expel a diplomat,
00:09an ambassador, and then in this case three diplomats as well.
00:13This following the revelations yesterday from ASIO and the government that Iran, through
00:20the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, was involved in orchestrating these two attacks
00:27using a number of proxies, the two attacks being the firebombing of the Adas Israel Synagogue
00:33in Melbourne in December, and also of Lewis's Continental Cafe and Restaurant, A Deli, in
00:40Sydney's Bondi region, that Iran was ultimately responsible for this and then did engage a
00:48series of intermediaries to carry out these attacks.
00:53Following on from that, we've heard quite a number of comments from both the government
01:01and the opposition backing in this decision.
01:04This is not the first time that a Western government has moved to expel an Iranian ambassador or
01:11to list the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.
01:18That second step also being committed to by the government yesterday, following in the
01:24footsteps of many other, as I say, Western countries in doing so.
01:31We have heard this morning from, again, both the government and opposition, who are both
01:35supportive of this decision and say the behaviour that has been demonstrated in the involvement
01:40of Iran in these attacks, not just on Australia's Jewish community, but Australia as a whole,
01:47is utterly unacceptable.
01:48Take a listen.
01:49We have no reason to believe that the people who are actually conducting the actions had
01:56any idea who had started it.
01:59That doesn't change the seriousness from the Australian government's point of view that
02:04Iran was still involved.
02:06And it draws a very red line in the ground for any country, in fact, who would consider
02:12conducting foreign interference, espionage, sabotage or indeed even targeted killings on our soil.
02:20The Israeli government has suggested that this move by the Australian government is in response
02:26to retaliation from Israel over Australia's recent moves to ban several members or revoke
02:35the visas of several members of the Israeli government from entering Australia, as well as to move to
02:42recognise a Palestinian state.
02:44The Australian government says this is not the case and that this decision yesterday is
02:49of no relevance or is not linked to its previous announcements when it comes to Israel and Palestine
02:57as well, Gemma.
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