Senate estimates wrap: AFP Herzog advice, minister's $30K phone discount and condoms

A minister's $30,000 phone bill discount has been scrutinised as Labor faces another Senate estimates week.

Chris Bowen sitting in parliament, with a man and a woman behind him sitting on a green bench.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen's phone bill has been thrust back into the spotlight after a hefty discount. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

Against the backdrop of nationwide protests, Israeli President Isaac Herzog's immunity during his four-day visit has been called into question in Senate estimates.

It was one of several queries during Monday's parliamentary scrutiny of the expenditure and administration of government departments and agencies.

Here are some of the key moments so far:

AFP Herzog's immunity advice questioned

Greens senator David Shoebridge has questioned the Attorney-General's Department (AGD) about what prompted legal advice to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to ensure Herzog's immunity from prosecution during his four-day visit to Australia.

Shoebridge cited AFP advice that "they couldn't prosecute President Herzog because he had immunity as a head of state", asking whether this was supplied by the department.

AGD secretary Katherine Jones said: "We won't go to the content of any advice that we provided."

Pressed about whether this was the view in the "eyes of the government", the department refused to answer.

A man in a navy suit next to a woman dressed in black, another woman holds an umbrella over them. Flower wreaths are around them.
Israel's President Isaac Herzog (right) and his wife Michal Herzog (second right) visited the site of the Bondi terror attack on Monday. Source: AP / Rick Rycroft

A United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI), which does not speak on behalf of the UN as a whole and has been sharply criticised by Israel, concluded in September that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

The commission also said Herzog, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant had "incited the commission of genocide" in their speeches and statements.

Israel is separately defending a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has ordered provisional measures but has yet to issue a final ruling.

Israel has repeatedly denied committing genocide in Gaza, saying it has the right to defend itself.

It "categorically" rejected the COI's findings as "distorted and false", while Netanyahu has described the ICJ case as "outrageous" and said Israel has an "unwavering commitment" to international law.

Herzog has vehemently denied allegations that his remarks amount to incitement, saying they were taken out of context.

Minister's $30,000 phone bill discount scrutinised

Labor has faced scrutiny over why Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen received a $30,000 phone bill discount from an Australian telecommunications company.

Bowen and his team racked up a $62,000 bill over a fortnight in November 2024, while visiting Azerbaijan for the UN's annual climate change conference.

A woman wearing a black jacket and top sits at a desk with a grey laptop in front of her.
Liberal senator Sarah Henderson asked why the government was afforded a $30,000 discount on its phone bill. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Liberal senator Sarah Henderson questioned why the refund was issued after the Climate Change department admitted it had failed to switch on international roaming.

"I am concerned about this," Henderson said.

"If there was no liability by the carrier, it just seems odd ... It would be brilliant if all Australians could get a refund on their telephone bill.

"There have been plenty of Australians who travelled overseas who've made probably a similar error."

SBS News can confirm that Telstra was the telecommunications company that issued the refund.

Hatred towards First Nations people within royal commission scope, minister says

Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy believes racism and hatred experienced by First Nations people could be part of the scope of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.

She said she was "very concerned" about the increase in "online hatred and racism" towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

"I certainly understand in terms of the terms of reference, there is an avenue there," McCarthy said.

"I will be encouraging people to put in their submissions, in particular, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's submissions to the royal commission about their concerns about racism and hatred."

It followed a question from Greens leader Larissa Water, asking whether McCarthy or the National Indigenous Australian Agency (NIAA) had contacted the attorney-general to expand the terms of reference.

NIAA chief executive Julie-Ann Guivarra explained that the royal commission includes developing recommendations to enhance social cohesion.

Condom 'anomaly' in parliament bathrooms

Liberal senator Jane Hume questioned an "anomaly" between the male and female parliament gym bathrooms, with condoms provided only for the latter.

A woman in a light blue jacket sits behind a laptop
Liberal senator Jane Hume questioned why there are condoms in the female bathrooms at the parliamentary gym and not in the male gym bathrooms. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

Nicola Hinder, the Department of Parliamentary Services deputy secretary, praised women's approach to managing their sexual health after her colleague admitted they were not aware of the issue.

"I believe it's absolutely wonderful that women are taking care of their sexual health," she said.

Hume responded: "I just wonder why men aren’t taking responsibility as well."

The department said it would look further into the issue.

— With additional reporting by Rayane Tamer and Rashida Yosufzai.


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By Ewa Staszewska

Source: SBS News



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