Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Ciccone for that protection very much, indeed. Here's what the Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings said of the Greens' approach to national security. He said it would:

… effectively turn Australia into a non-aligned, neutral (state) with a defence budget about the level of New Zealand's.

And that would make us ripe for the picking in terms of China's attempts to dominate the region and our island neighbours.

This bill reflects more broadly the internal battles being played out within factions of the government. That's the reality. It's being played out at the upcoming national conference of the Labor Party. Rather than address the internal strife within its own party, the Prime Minister deemed it was just easier to extend the membership of this committee. That's the reality of what's happening. That's the genesis of the issue here. Rather than stand up and deal with things, as a leader should, we do a simple change to the membership so that you don't need to stand up to the internal divisions and strife, even within their own party.

The coalition would welcome the engagement from the government on this bill to remove this terrible change. In the time that we have left before the final vote is put on this bill, I encourage you to stop, consider, press pause and deal with us. Let's work something out so that we get a reasonable result that reflects the recommendations that were originally made through the Richardson review and that addresses, maybe, some deficiencies—and addresses them in an appropriate way. That is the way of a sensible, sound government; it takes national security seriously. That's the offer the opposition has provided and has put on the table, and we encourage you to accept that. The coalition would welcome engagement from the government.

It's in Australia's interest to keep national security above partisanship and politics. This is of grave concern not just to those here in this place but, indeed, to those across the country. It's not just we as politicians who are interested in this—it's our homes; it's our livelihoods; it's our families; it's people. The security of our nation is the most important thing that this parliament and, indeed, the government has to contend with. So I urge the government: please, don't do this just for a cheap political win—whether it be for internal purposes or to deal with the future make-up of some minority government or whatever it might be that you have to deal with in the future. Let's deal with the reality right now, which is that our national security is of utmost importance. Don't treat it flippantly. Address it by working with a party of government that is responsible and wants to deal with these things in a sound and serious way. Don't just give in to cheap political points.