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

The answer is in two parts. First of all, the answer is, no, if the damage is within the capability of the state or territory police to deal with. However, if it has escalated or is very likely to escalate far beyond what the state or territory police can deal with, in that case—similar to Senator Patrick's point—it would be a magnitude of civil disobedience or violent protest that we probably haven't seen here in Australia, certainly in my lifetime. If it got to that threshold point, then the answer would be, yes, states or territories could ask the ADF for assistance. But, again, that doesn't mean that the ADF would—through the safeguards that we've mentioned—actually agree to do it. It would depend on the circumstances.