David Feeney (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

We say, obviously, that it is appropriate in these circumstances. There are a limited number of decisions under this bill which are treated in this manner and, obviously, this represents an issue of potentially enormous importance.

That importance flows from the fact that there is potentially highly sensitive content and the fact that it may involve issues of the highest consequence to government. These decisions are of high importance relating to Australia's security, defence or international relations and, obviously, these are decisions that any minister of the Crown would make only in the context of having the most thorough and persuasive advice.