Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I wish to add to an answer. I was asked in question 1 and question 3 in question time today about confidentiality and meetings with other world leaders. I want to add some context here. This is from Marise Payne on 25 September 2018:

We've had a very productive and constructive bilateral. It was my first meeting with State Councilor Wang Yi … We have had a good discussion about a number of issues, I'm not going to go into the detail, I regard these things as confidential bilateral engagements …

This, from Malcolm Turnbull, is about the United States and discussions:

But on security matters … again, I keep my counsel and discussions with our ally at a private level, at a confidential level. We're in constant engagement with them.

Just in case we want to get the other side of the disputes over there, Tony Abbott on 1 October 2013 said:

… I am not going to spill the beans on discussions which necessarily should be confidential if they’re to be as constructive and collegial and candid as they need to be …

Tony Abbott, again, in 2012 said:

I think the best way to strengthen relations with Indonesia, which is such a critically important neighbour, such a very important friend, is to respect private conversations.

Tony Abbott, on 4 May 2015, said:

… I'm not going to comment on private conversations between Australian government ministers and Indonesian government ministers …

Finally, from Peter Dutton, the current Leader of the Opposition, on 2 January 2019, we had:

What I said is that there was engagement with Fiji, and as to private conversations, detailed briefings, that were conducted by DFAT and others, that's not something we will publicly comment on.

They then went on to get more questions in that press conference, and he answered with this:

Look, in relation to what I said or what my office said in briefings, I'm not going to comment on that. I act to keep Australians safe.

Well, I act to keep Australian safe. That is what we are doing, and that is what we are delivering through our international relations.

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