Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The answer to that is no, although it was a multi-pronged question. I think it is 'no' generally, certainly to the first point. We are a party that has our debate in public. I'm sure it's of great interest to you, because yours is not. I'm sure it's also of great interest to the Greens, because they like private conferences as well. But we are a broad based party that have our debates in public. We're prepared to have the debates in public, and what you will see at that conference is the leadership of the Australian Labor Party articulating very clearly why AUKUS is important for our nation's security. I have spoken about it at length, including at the National Press Club, which you may not have read, Senator Paterson, but you may wish to, and I've also responded publicly and very clearly to criticisms from various sources about AUKUS. We have articulated the strategic circumstances which have rendered the government's approach necessary. We have articulated the benefit of the technology sharing of the AUKUS partnership, and we are committed to ensure that we deliver continued progress on AUKUS, as was demonstrated at the recent AUSMIN meetings.

In terms of the various other aspects of his question, I would make the point that Sir Angus Houston and Mr Smith who wrote the DSR did talk about the importance of DFAT contributing to assuring the peace through the work that DFAT does diplomatically. That is about making sure we use all levers of national power, strategic deterrence and military deterrence but also diplomacy in pursuit of a peaceful, stable and prosperous region. That is a good thing. (Time expired)