Question time as it happened: Matt Canavan elected new leader of the National Party; two more Iranian women seek asylum

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy has told Liberal front bencher Andrew Hastie that a question about the war in Iran is better directed to US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after he was asked about the end of conflict in Iran.

“The Strait of Hormuz been closed to shipping since the start of the war in the Middle East. Given 20 per cent of the world’s oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz alongside LNG and alumina, can the minister advise how long he expects military effort also take critical choke point is reopened,” Hastie asked.

Conroy, who is representing Defence Minister Richard Marles while he is on a diplomatic trip to Indonesia, immediately responded by slapping down the question.

“I thank the member for his question, although I point out he’s probably directing the question at the wrong person. He’s effectively asking me to predict when the conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel will end. And I would submit there’s a question best directed to President Trump, the rulers of Iran and the Prime Minister of Israel,” Conroy said.

“In terms of what the broader question went to, which was the potential interruption to our supplies, I can report to the House that as a response to a recommendation of defense strategic review, we’ve doubled the fuel holdings for the Australian Defense Force,” he said.

“That’s something that should have happened under your watch, which you failed to do. And the latest advice from the chief of Defence Force is that our fuel supplies to the ADF, including from the Middle East, aren’t interrupted. So instead of scaremongering, they should ask constructive questions.”

One member of the Iranian women’s soccer team delegation has sought to return to Iran after being provided a humanitarian visa, and members of the delegation were moved by the government after Iranian officials became aware of their location, Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke has told the House of Representatives.

Burke said he travelled to Brisbane and Sydney to see if anyone from the team was interested in taking up Australia’s offer to remain in Australia. Two members of the delegation – one player and one support person – requested to remain in Australia and were issued with humanitarian visas, as already reported.

“I would advise that one of the two who had made the decision to stay last night, had spoken to some of the teammates who had left and had changed her mind. In Australia, people are able to change their mind. People are able to travel. And so we respect the context in which she has made that decision,” Burke told the House.

“Unfortunately, in making that decision, she’d been advised by her teammates and coach to contact the Iranian embassy and to get collected. My officials made sure that this was her decision, and every question you would want asked, was asked,” he said.

“As a result of that, it meant that the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was. I immediately gave the instruction for people to be moved, and that’s been dealt with immediately,” Burke said.

The minister said “we can all be very proud of the Australian Federal Police” and members of the Department of Home Affairs for supporting the provision of humanitarian visas to those who sought them.

“Australia is a country where they can see there is freedom of choice for women as well, and a country where those who have made the decision to stay will be very welcome and very much the rest of the Australian people will be wrapping them in our arms.”