Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I do thank the member for his question. I am aware of media reports alleging Australian intelligence gathering. I wish to make a number of points in response. First of all, all governments gather information and all governments know that every other government gathers information. I should add for the member's benefit that the Australian government never comments on specific intelligence matters. This has been the long tradition of governments of both political persuasions and I do not intend to change that today. I should also say that the Australian government uses all the resources at its disposal, including information, to help our friends and our allies, not to harm them.

My first duty is to protect Australia and to advance our national interests, and I will never, ever depart from that. Consistent with that duty, I will never say or do anything that might damage the strong relationship and the close cooperation that we have with Indonesia, which is, all in all, our most important relationship—a relationship that I am determined to foster, a relationship that I am determined will grow stronger in the months and years ahead.

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