David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

May I thank the shadow minister for attending a funeral yesterday in Gosford. The point about speculating and hypotheticals in what is our most important strategic relationship is, quite frankly, trite and not helpful. What was put to me was a hypothetical situation as to whether Australia was 'bound'—that was the word used by the journalist. The fact simply is that the alliance requires us to consult. Of course that is exactly what Australia and the United States would do in circumstances where there is a serious threat to the interests of either. We are not going to speculate about matters that are particularly and dangerously hypothetical.

Let's talk about this relationship. Australia has since 1952 had one of the strongest strategic alliances of any country in the world with the United States. It is a mutually beneficial relationship. Speculation as to the hypotheticals is simply not helpful. We get on with our business together. We do very, very good work together in maintaining and surveilling international stability—of course, for 11 years in Afghanistan and for many years in Iraq together. The senator would know that we have as a member of the Five Eyes community serious responsibility together to surveil counterterrorism activities. The relationship is a very strong one, and I particularly work very hard—almost every day—to make sure that relationship continues to be very successful.