Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence, also representing the Minister for Trade, Senator Payne. My question is about your government's plan to provide a six-fold increase of weapons and defence technology sales from Australia by lending almost $4 billion of public money to the defence industry. Tim Costello, the chief advocate for World Vision Australia, said, Minister:

This is a government that has cut humanitarian aid, which saves lives, to the lowest level in our history, and it is now seriously discussing the merits of becoming a major weapons manufacturer and exporter …

The government says this is an export and investment opportunity—but we would be exporting death and profiting from bloodshed.

Minister, do you agree with Mr Costello? And, if not, why not? Is he right or is he wrong?