Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. In response to questions regarding the poisonous chemical contamination emanating from RAAF Base Williamtown at Senate estimates on 21 October, Defence Assistant Secretary Alison Clifton said:

… we believe that that contamination is still exiting the base.

Yet on 12 November, the minister told the Senate:

… this is actually not a Defence issue.

Given that Defence has admitted its culpability in the continuing chemical leak at Williamtown, does the minister now accept that Defence is responsible for this contamination?