Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. In November 2023 Royal Australian Navy divers were injured by sonar pulses fired at them by a Chinese navy destroyer. Ten days ago a Chinese fighter jet fired flares in the flight path of an RAN Seahawk, risking the lives of our people. Why hasn't the Prime Minister called President Xi about these clear acts of intimidation?

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

Why doesn't the opposition back up Australia? Why do they look for political differentiation when this is about our national interests? This mob never had a phone call, let alone a meeting, during their entire last term in office—nothing. This mob were happy to have President Xi speak in this parliament but had no conversations with them the entire time. We have made it very clear that the actions of the PLA are unprofessional and unacceptable. And I would have thought that it was not a hard ask—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister for infrastructure will cease interjecting.

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

for you to say, 'Yes, we agree; we are at one in defending the Australian Defence Force,' rather than trying to send confusing messages to the People's Republic of China. I would have thought it wasn't a hard ask. We have made all of the appropriate representations. We continue to say we will agree and cooperate with China where we can and we will disagree where we must. On this we must and on this we have.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Prime Minister will pause. The member for Blair will—

Order! The Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister will cease interjecting.

Order! The member for Blair will resume his seat. The Minister for Home Affairs will cease interjecting and refer to members by their correct titles. The Prime Minister in continuation.

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

Thanks, Mr Speaker. I note the anger on behalf of China. What we are doing—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister hasn't concluded his answer, so he shall just pause. The Leader of the Opposition has a point of order. We'll hear that.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's on relevance. The question was: why hasn't the Prime Minister shown strength of character to call the Chinese president? Why can't you stand up for our country?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat.

Order! The member for Groom. The Leader of the Opposition has raised his point of order, which he's entitled to do. The Leader of the House is also able to respond to the point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, at the end of it we had a complete abuse. The anger gets the better of the Leader of the Opposition and he abuses it every time.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! First day, new session—the same rules apply: everyone can make a point of order on relevance; they shall not add extra material or extra comments or extra grabs at the end of the points of order. The Prime Minister is talking about the issue. He is giving information to the House about the incident.

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. The Prime Minister is being directly relevant under the standing orders. He has the call.

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

The senior members of the government received briefings through all of the appropriate bodies. We made clear our position, both privately and publicly, unequivocally: our opposition to what occurred. I would have thought that there are times when an opposition leader has the strength to say: I'm with the Australian government on this. What is weak is trying to look for political differentiation—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Groom is now warned.

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

where this is an issue, where you are either on the Australian government's side, and on the side of the Australia Defence Force and its personnel, or you are questioning that and therefore undermining the government's position in relation to the representations we have made to China. The ADF were in international waters and international air, providing support for an international action against North Korea. I would have thought that it wouldn't be beyond the opposition to say, 'We agree with the government.' (Time expired)