What the Senate Debated on 11 March 2026: Iran War, National Security Bill, Super Choice and Islamophobia Motion

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the Senate Debated on 11 March 2026: Iran War, National Security Bill, Super Choice and Islamophobia Motion

The Senate sitting on Wednesday 11 March 2026 was dominated by two deeply contentious debates that revealed a chamber sharply divided on matters of war, national security and social cohesion. Senators spent the morning trading accusations over Australia's military involvement in the escalating Iran conflict before turning to a Coalition private senator's bill that would criminalise the rescue of Australian children from war zones — legislation the Greens denounced as 'unprincipled, unethical, unconstitutional.' The day also saw progress on superannuation reform, senators' statements on topics ranging from Queensland floods to the Iranian women's football team, and a Greens motion marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia that the government opposed. The most sustained debate of the day concerned the Middle East conflict, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong delivering her daily update on the hostilities and Australia's decision to support US-Israeli military action against Iran. Wong told the Senate: 'The judgement the government made was that it was in Australia's interests for Iran not to be able to obtain a nuclear weapon and for Iran to be prevented from continuing to disrupt international peace and security.' She emphasised that 'the principles of the Geneva conventions on international humanitarian law continue to apply' but acknowledged the government was 'not in a position to determine the legal basis' of the US-Israeli action. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young responded forcefully: 'Australia is now at war. Australia has sent a warplane with missiles and dozens of personnel. It doesn't matter how the Albanese government tries to spin this, to sugar-coat this.' She noted the reported death toll of over 1,300 and invoked Albanese's own 2003 criticism of the Iraq war. Independent senator Lidia Thorpe went further, claiming: 'The Albanese government has taken this country to war. They deny this fact, but legal experts have clearly said that the military assets are an act of war.' Coalition senators, while broadly supportive of the government's alignment with US action, used the Middle East debate to attack Labor's national security credentials more broadly. Senator Michaelia Cash pivoted from the Iran situation to accuse the government of duplicity over the repatriation of so-called ISIS brides, saying the Prime Minister 'tells the Australian people that ISIS sympathisers are not welcome in Australia, yet what we do know is that passports have been issued to them.' She claimed federal and state agencies had been meeting 'for months and months to coordinate' the return of the women and children. This critique fed directly into the second major debate: the Criminal Code Amendment (Keeping Australia Safe) Bill 2026, a Coalition private senator's bill. Senator Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania) opened the debate, characterising the bill as 'an important piece of legislation given the context this country is currently operating in.' But Greens senator David Shoebridge delivered one of the most scathing speeches of the sitting, describing the bill as 'unprincipled, unethical, unconstitutional' and accusing the Coalition of 'scooping into the bottom of some fetid tank of coalition politics' to produce legislation that would 'make it a crime to bring children out of a war zone.' Shoebridge said the Coalition 'know it's unconstitutional, know it would get struck down within two minutes in the High Court — but they don't care about that. They want their hateful sound bite to feed a race debate in Australia and to feed Islamophobia.' One Nation's Tyron Whitten indicated support for the bill, telling the Senate: 'Australians are outraged at the way the Albanese Labor government continues to fail to protect our national security and our border sovereignty.' Senator Claire Chandler (Tasmania) led the Coalition's contribution on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025, a bill the Coalition supported. The legislation includes measures allowing Australians greater choice in their super fund when covered by workplace determinations. Labor senator Lisa Darmanin asserted that 'Labor is the party of superannuation' and defended the measures. Greens senator Nick McKim offered his party's support for the bill while using schedule 5 — concerning charitable fundraising — as a platform to criticise 'dark money' in politics. The day began with a procedural clash over a Greens motion marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. Senator Mehreen Faruqi sought leave to move the motion, which was denied, prompting a suspension of standing orders debate. Government senator Murray Watt accused the Greens of 'focusing on launching political attacks on their political enemies and not on social cohesion,' claiming the motion 'was first circulated minutes before the chamber sat this morning.' In senators' statements, a diverse range of topics were covered. Corinne Mulholland (ALP, Queensland) spoke on widespread flooding in Queensland that had cut hundreds of roads and required swift-water rescues. Steph Hodgins-May (Greens, Victoria) discussed International Women's Day and the South Australian state election. Raff Ciccone (ALP, Victoria) recognised the Iranian women's national football team members granted humanitarian visas. Nick McKim raised the stark claim that 'Australia is at war with Iran,' while Matt Canavan (Nationals, Queensland) spoke on fuel prices and the sugar industry. Questions without notice focused heavily on fuel security, with Coalition senators pressing the government on supply disruptions, while Greens and independent senators pursued the government on the legal basis for Australia's involvement in the Iran conflict.

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Evidence review

Senate debates Australia's role in the Iran conflict

Foreign Minister Penny Wong delivered her daily statement on the Middle East conflict, defending the government's decision to support US-Israeli military strikes on Iran. Wong said the government judged it was 'in Australia's interests for Iran not to be able to obtain a nuclear weapon and for Iran to be prevented from continuing to disrupt international peace and security.' She said the government was 'not in a position to determine the legal basis' of the US-Israeli action but emphasised that 'the principles of the Geneva conventions on international humanitarian law continue to apply.'

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young rejected the government's characterisation, telling the chamber: 'Australia is now at war. Australia has sent a warplane with missiles and dozens of personnel. It doesn't matter how the Albanese government tries to spin this.' She invoked Albanese's 2003 opposition to the Iraq war, quoting his past statement that 'the cause of democracy is not advanced through weapons of mass destruction.' Hanson-Young acknowledged the Iranian regime's brutality but said: 'I do mourn for the innocent civilians, the people of Iran.' She reported a death toll of over 1,300 and the displacement of tens of thousands.

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe claimed 'legal experts have clearly said that the military assets are an act of war.' Coalition senators, while not opposing the government's alignment with the US, used the debate to criticise Labor's broader national security record. Senator Michaelia Cash pivoted to the ISIS brides issue, accusing the Prime Minister of telling Australians one thing while 'behind closed doors it is a very, very different situation.' Cash claimed passports had been issued and federal-state meetings had been held for months to coordinate repatriation. Liberal senator James Paterson traced the conflict's roots to the 1979 Iranian revolution, saying the ayatollahs 'have been at war with their own people, their neighbours and the West.'

Evidence review

Coalition's 'Keeping Australia Safe' Bill sparks fierce debate

The Criminal Code Amendment (Keeping Australia Safe) Bill 2026, a Coalition private senator's bill, attracted some of the most inflammatory language of the sitting. Senator Jonathon Duniam opened the debate by linking the bill to the broader national security context, while Senator Cash argued: 'The No. 1 priority of any Commonwealth government is keeping Australians safe.'

Greens senator David Shoebridge delivered a blistering critique, describing the bill as 'unprincipled, unethical, unconstitutional' and accusing the Coalition of trying to 'make it a crime to bring children out of a war zone, to make it a crime for Australians or NGOs to go into a war zone and try and protect children.' He said the Coalition 'know it's unconstitutional, know it would get struck down within two minutes in the High Court — but they don't care about that. They want their hateful sound bite to feed a race debate in Australia and to feed Islamophobia.' Shoebridge described the children affected as those who 'have never walked on grass, never smelt a flower.' One Nation senator Tyron Whitten told the chamber his party 'unsurprisingly, supports' the bill, saying 'Australians are outraged at the way the Albanese Labor government continues to fail to protect our national security.' Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume also spoke in favour, saying 'the first duty of any government is to keep Australians safe.'

Evidence review

Superannuation choice bill advances with cross-party support

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025 drew contributions from the Coalition, Labor and the Greens — all broadly supportive. Senator Claire Chandler (Tasmania) outlined 'several sensible measures which the coalition will be supporting,' while Labor senator Lisa Darmanin emphasised that 'Labor is the party of superannuation' and the bill's measures would 'ensure workers are not trapped in underperforming funds.' Greens senator Nick McKim offered support for the bill but used debate on schedule 5, concerning charitable fundraising regulation, to raise concerns about 'dark money' influencing political outcomes. Senator Josh Dolega (ALP, Tasmania) also spoke in support.

Evidence review

Islamophobia motion and social cohesion debate

The day began with a procedural dispute when Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi sought to move a motion recognising the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. Leave was denied, and Faruqi moved a suspension of standing orders. Government senator Murray Watt opposed the motion, accusing the Greens of 'focusing on launching political attacks on their political enemies and not on social cohesion' and claiming the motion had been 'first circulated minutes before the chamber sat this morning.' The motion was not agreed to, reflecting the government's sensitivity around community cohesion debates at a time of heightened Middle East tensions.

Evidence review

Senators' statements: floods, football, and fuel security

In senators' statements, Corinne Mulholland (ALP, Queensland) detailed the impact of widespread flooding across Queensland, noting 'hundreds of roads have been cut, and emergency services are undertaking swift-water rescues.' Steph Hodgins-May (Greens, Victoria) reflected on International Women's Day and the South Australian state election. Raff Ciccone (ALP, Victoria) praised the Iranian women's national football team members granted humanitarian visas by Australia. Senators Canavan, Liddle, Whitten and others addressed fuel prices and energy security, while questions without notice saw sustained Coalition questioning on fuel supply disruptions. Greens senators McKim and Shoebridge used question time to press the government on the legal basis for Australia's involvement in Iran, with McKim telling the chamber: 'The Foreign Minister was asked a very clear, very simple and very important question: what is the legal basis for this war — and the answer was evasive.'

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