Penny Wong goes nuclear on senator for disappearing for ‘six months’ and ‘posting holiday photos everywhere’ while taking a salary from taxpayers
Foreign Minister Penny Wong rebuked United Australia Party senator Ralph Babet in a heated Senate exchange, saying he had returned to ask his first question in six months while continuing to receive a taxpayer-funded salary. The dispute arose after Babet questioned Australia’s refusal to import Russian fuel and compared it with US plans to buy Russian diesel; Wong said Australia would continue to support Ukraine.
Wong also criticised Babet for sharing holiday photos from London and Venice while Parliament was sitting. Hansard records show he made seven Senate contributions in the previous three months, compared with 98 by independent senator David Pocock. Babet had an approved leave of absence from 11 to 20 August for personal reasons, which appeared to coincide with travel shown on his social media.
- Wong criticised Babet’s six-month gap between Senate questions.
- Babet made seven contributions in three months, Hansard records show.
- Australia reaffirmed its support for Ukraine.
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Ralph Babet is a senator from the United Australia Party, a minor party represented in the Australian Parliament. Penny Wong is Australia's Foreign Minister. Senators are elected to represent their states and territories in Parliament and receive a government salary for this work.
Senators are expected to attend Parliament when it sits and to participate in debates and parliamentary questions. All parliamentary contributions are recorded in Hansard, the official parliamentary record, allowing the activity levels of different senators to be publicly compared.
Accountability for senators typically focuses on whether their parliamentary participation justifies their taxpayer-funded salary. When a senator's contributions fall significantly below those of their peers over an extended period, it may attract public and political criticism about their performance of parliamentary duties.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Senators are elected to represent constituents and contribute to parliamentary work, which is what taxpayers fund. When someone makes only seven Senate contributions over three months whilst continuing to draw a salary, it raises fair questions about value for public money and whether the role is being treated seriously. Posting holiday photos whilst Parliament is sitting compounds the impression that the position is not being prioritised appropriately. Citizens reasonably expect their elected representatives to maintain substantive engagement with parliamentary business and constituent service.
The case against
Babet had an approved leave of absence and was still making parliamentary contributions, albeit fewer than some colleagues. Senators have varying roles and workloads, so comparing contribution numbers without context provides a misleading basis for criticism. People can legitimately balance professional duties with personal time and approved leave—posting holiday photos does not negate parliamentary work undertaken. If leave was properly approved and he is meeting his substantive responsibilities, criticism based on relative activity levels compared to another senator may hold him to an arbitrary rather than objective standard.
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