Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I just wanted to say a couple of words in commendation of Senator Lambie and her fine work in pursual of this amendment and advocacy in the general area of veterans' affairs. As the recently appointed Greens' spokesperson in the area of peace, disarmament and veterans' affairs, I look forward with enthusiasm to a productive working relationship with Senator Lambie as we continue to cause a bit of trouble in this place in the name of folks who actually need our help.

I would finish this evening by calling the chamber's attention to the continued absence in the Australian legislative landscape of a responsibility upon this chamber and the other place to vote when we send folks to war. This has been a great conversation about symbolism. It has been a great conversation about the importance of paying homage to and caring for and respecting our veterans, all of which is true. But I would ask both parties in this place, Labor and Liberal, to take that language through to its natural conclusion and be prepared to sign your name on the dotted line when you send our troops to war—something which is not currently required of us in this place. If we're going to talk about our responsibility to veterans, and if we're going to talk about the impacts of war, let's begin right here. Let's begin right here by passing a piece of legislation to bring us in line with the rest of the OECD and many of our so-called defence partners, such as the United States. Even the United States requires their congress to formally sign off on prolonged periods of deployment. Let us get our act together, in the names of those who have fallen and in the names of those who still fight, with the result of coming home, and let us at least be prepared to take responsibility when we put troops in harm's way.

I commend this motion and the work of Senator Lambie to the chamber.