Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I, with respect, thank the member for his question. I know he's held this view for a long time and advocated it in this place, but the government believes in what is set out in the Australian Constitution, and that is that the power to make war, deploy troops and declare peace is part of the executive powers of the Commonwealth, an executive power as recognised in section 61 of the Constitution.

I believe that all those who have served—and I have no doubt the member would believe this also—in whatever conflict we've been engaged in have fallen in the name of Australia, in the name of freedom and in the name of our values, and have fallen seeking to pursue the national interests of Australia and to keep Australians safe. Whether that is in Afghanistan, Vietnam or the many other conflicts referred to by the member, all of their sacrifice has been great and has made Australia stronger. I'll ask the Minister for Defence to add to the answer.

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