Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

The question by the Leader of the Australian Greens is, of course, absolutely hypothetical. There is no basis to it whatsoever. The CDF and other high military officials have completely and utterly debunked the nonsense that was peddled in the media in relation to that, and indeed the journalist that first wrote the story has somewhat backpedalled from his initial assertions. So, given all that passage of time and that evidence, for the Leader of the Australian Greens to come in here and somehow give that assertion some credibility does her no credit whatsoever.

I can confirm to the Senate that no such proposal was on the table or is on the table; and, as a result, the question is hypothetical.