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

Again, I thank the senator for his question and I can confirm that the government will make regular ministerial statements, in line with previous practice. Indeed, I see Senator Faulkner entering the chamber. I want to say that we would want to carry out ministerial information into this chamber, just as he did when he was the Defence minister. Today you should be aware that Prime Minister Abbott has given a detailed ministerial statement. That will be tabled in this chamber following question time.

I underline my appreciation for the bipartisan way in which we are going forward on this. This is something that the government is agonising over. We do not deploy young Australians into a theatre, such as we have observed in Iraq, lightly. Our risk assessment is deep and constant. We are very conscious of the very heavy burden of responsibility that sits upon us as we go forward with this problem.