When Penny Wong took the lectern for the keynote speech at a conference on foreign affairs this week, she could have done what politicians usually do at these events.

She could have delivered a mundane speech about the same challenges we all know Australia faces in its region.

Instead, she decided to float the idea that Australia should recognise an independent Palestinian state.

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on what recognising a Palestinian state would mean – and why the foreign minister decided to talk about it now.

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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