Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The opposition will not be supporting this suspension of standing orders motion currently before us. I should say in response to Senator Di Natale's criticisms of the Labor Party, in relation to how foreign policy matters are handled in this place, that we were happy to deal with and vote on the motion today. We were not going to deny formality.

I would also add that we were going to vote against the motion, but we also respect the right of the government to deny formality. We were not going to deny leave. You are putting us both in the same basket, in the comments you made, Senator Di Natale. We were happy for the motion to be taken as formal but we do accept the decision of the government to deny formality. Foreign policy matters judged, in this case, by the government as complex or contested should not be dealt with through formal motions where there is no scope for debate.

I will take the opportunity that is provided to me, here, to make a short statement on Labor's views on Australia's relationship with the US. As the shadow foreign minister, Penny Wong, wrote last week, there is and will continue to be strong bipartisan support for the US alliance. Labor supports the alliance as a critical element of Australia's foreign and defence policy. For Labor, however, the US alliance has never meant that we agree with every aspect of American policy, and the fact that we share an alliance does not mean that we trade away our values. Labor will continue to advocate for our values and for an independent foreign policy that reflects Australia's national interests within the alliance framework.

In terms of the matter before the chamber today, we were happy to deal with the motion. We were going to vote against the motion. But we will not be supporting the suspension of standing orders here today.