Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I'm not sure I heard a question in that from Senator McKim. However, I would just perhaps restate what I just said. I do acknowledge the term is not specifically defined in section 119—it is mentioned but not specifically defined. However, as I very clearly said earlier on, the term has a clearly understood meaning in this constitutional context and it is used in section 119 of the Constitution, as you have acknowledged, Senator McKim. This section very clearly deals with state requests for assistance in responding to domestic violence. In that context I will reiterate that it is clear we are not talking about any incidents of violence that the police have well in hand. The incident must be of such gravity and magnitude to warrant calling out the ADF. We might have a difference of opinion in terms of whether it should be—and, clearly, philosophically the Greens don't believe there is any circumstance in which the ADF can be called out in response to domestic violence, as stated in the Constitution and also as clearly defined through precedent.