Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Kitching for her question. As I have said publicly previously, in responding to the statement made by the opposition—initially on, I think, the Insiders program on a Sunday morning—I am not persuaded that there is a need for the suggestion that those opposite have made. As we know, all members of parliament and senators, including those in the opposition, are able to join relevant committees such as the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security or the foreign affairs, defence and trade committees, all of which get extensive briefings from agencies. The shadow minister for foreign affairs is very well aware of that. She sat on those committees for years, although I do understand that, due to internal Labor arrangements at the moment, she is not currently on the PJCIS. That is the assessment that the government has made and the position that we've taken.