Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Indeed, there was profoundly important criticism from the Curtin opposition to the Menzies government in the first years of the Second World War, but even then it was understood that, on critical matters, bipartisanship mattered.

When the Morrison government made its AUKUS announcement last year that Australia would acquire nuclear-powered submarines, the Albanese Labor opposition provided unconditional, unqualified support immediately, and that continued right through until the election. But, over the last week, the attitude of the opposition to AUKUS has become quite unclear, as we have been hearing the Leader of the Opposition describe his preferences about a future submarine capability. This has raised eyebrows abroad about whether or not the coalition is on board.

Now, the last time the Leader of the Opposition received a confidential briefing about AUKUS was in the very early days of a process which has gone a long way since then.

See this speech in context