Keith Pitt (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a contribution as the deputy chair, and I certainly won't delay the House.

Leave granted.

I wasn't expecting the audience. I'll confine my remarks so we can hear from former minister O'Connor. I want to speak simply around the HMAS Stirling provisions for AUKUS. Obviously, this is bipartisan support, but I would put on the record some concerns about elements that were produced by witnesses at the public hearing in recent weeks, where claims were made about particular Senate committee comments about intermediate waste being stored at HMAS Stirling. Clearly, they were misinformed. We were fortunate enough to be able to track down the Hansard. The exact words, or close enough, of the witness's answer when they were questioned by a particular senator about intermediate waste being stored in the location were, 'That is exactly not what I said.' So there will be no intermediate waste, but we do need to ensure that this debate—and people are entitled to put forward their views—is based on facts, not things that are selected from particular committee hearings. Thanks to the deputy chair for reading so quickly. I look forward to Minister O'Connor's contribution.

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