Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Hansard source

The government needs to come clean on the $25 million missing from the Australian Antarctic Division in Hobart. Taking any money out of this very important agency is—I don't have any words for it—it's just ridiculous. Not only does it threaten jobs and very important science that happens there; let's talk about national security, shall we?

Listen to this, Tasmanians: China's on our tail; here it comes! This sends a clear message to China that the government—the government that's so big on national security!—has taken its eye off the ball already. China has permanently occupied Antarctic stations and is currently building a new one in the Ross Sea region. Experts say this new one will have a satellite ground station, which will mean the Chinese Communist Party can hack into the satellite communications of other countries. Don't worry, Tassie, we're closest, and the red team is cutting funding for the Antarctic Division! Seriously! It reminds me of when the blue team went and leased the Port of Darwin to China. Come on red team—come clean and tell us what's going on with this funding. We want to know.