John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

I would say to the Senate that this is an important issue. The Pappas report has recommended further savings through the super base model, but the government understands that there are wider strategic and social ramifications to be considered. The defence audit focused mainly on financial savings and it did not fully examine these broader issues. In my view, it would be irresponsible for the government to agree to base rationalisation without a more comprehensive examination of both national strategic requirements and community considerations. I can say that the government has not made any decisions on base consolidation and has not accepted the recommendations of the Pappas report on that issue. (Time expired)