Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Likewise, in the coalition we absolutely recognise the passion and commitment that Senator Lambie has towards the issues that she has outlined here in the chamber this evening and in the amendment that she has circulated in the Committee of the Whole. The coalition will be opposing this amendment. We fundamentally do support the prompt passage of this bill. It's an important piece of legislation alongside the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2024. This legislation will keep Australia in sync and at pace with AUKUS partners and will ensure the development of security and export frameworks that support the implementation of AUKUS. We don't want to do anything in this chamber that will delay the passage of those bills. We also don't think that this bill is necessarily the best vehicle to address the issues that Senator Lambie has been raising, but certainly we are not ruling out progressing discussions with Senator Lambie on an issue that we know she is very passionate about. The question is whether this bill is the right place to do it. We submit that it is not and, like I said, we will be opposing this amendment this evening.

Question negatived.