In solidarity with the Iranian diaspora in Australia, the Greens for years have called on the Australian Government to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code Act 1995, which the Albanese Government today commit to do.
These steps are appropriate given the reported actions of the Iranian Regime. They follow from effective action by the authorities to investigate and understand the cause of anti-semitic acts.
The Greens have also called for the government to support at the United Nations General Assembly the implementation of the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
Senator David Shoebridge, Greens spokesman on Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs, said:
"Given the reported nature of the actions of the Iranian regime, it is fitting that the Iranian Ambassador be expelled.
"The Iranian Regime has a long history of persecuting religious and ethnic groups, women and LGBTQI+ people and the Greens have consistently called for listing the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. Until today the Albanese government has resisted these calls.
"No country should be allowed to interfere in our politics, or cause fear or repression in any part of our community. We know that diaspora communities are particularly vulnerable to these actions and they all must be protected.
"The Albanese Government now has a responsibility to provide as much detail as possible to detail the chain of evidence to support its conclusions. Transparency builds public confidence and is critical at times like this.
"It should also be clear that sanctions need to be applied consistently to all countries that are breaking international law.
"There is a deep inconsistency with the Government taking these measures against Iran and failing to take similar steps against other countries when they grossly breach international law, not least Israel," Senator Shoebridge said.
