Pat Conroy (Shortland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Industry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek to supplement an answer in question time due to the microphones cutting out!

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Pat Conroy (Shortland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Industry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek to add to an answer.

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

Proceed.

Opposition members interjecting—

Order. Members on my left. The member for Page. The minister is adding to his answer, which he's entitled to do under the standing orders. He can continue.

Pat Conroy (Shortland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Industry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is misinformation regarding who has contracted who has contracted with Elbit. The Commonwealth has a contract with Hanwha Defence Australia to build infantry fighting vehicles in Australia. Hanwha Defence Australia has contracted to Elbit to build the turrets of those vehicles in Australia without the Commonwealth being a party to that contract. These vehicles are being built in Australia for use by the Australian Army. Any suggestion that we are exporting weapons or ammunition to Israel is false. Defence has confirmed Australia has not supplied—

Honourable members interjecting—

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

The member for Cunningham is warned. The member for Richmond will cease interjecting.

Pat Conroy (Shortland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Industry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

weapons or ammunition to Israel since the Hamas-Israel conflict began and for at least the past five years. Defence export permits that were issued were for items other than weapons and ammunition such as dual-use technologies and components of ADF equipment being repaired.

As the conflict has evolved, the government is approving export permits only for items for Australian defence and law enforcement that will return to Australia. The recent data published by DFAT referring to the export of $1.5 million in arms and ammunition to Israel in February refers to the export of a single item for the Australian Defence Force that will return to Australia, disproving the misinformation being peddled by the Greens. The misinformation being peddled by the Greens political party continues to divide our community and attacks the 100,000 Australians working in the defence industry—

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

The member for Griffith will cease interjecting.

Pat Conroy (Shortland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Industry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

all for short-term political advantage.