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

Last year, the Inspector-General of the ADF marked its 20th year in operation, and an independent 20-year review of the IGADF was initiated and approved by the Deputy Prime Minister. The review, conducted by former justice Duncan Kerr, was wideranging, in respect of the IGADF's structure, operations and functions, and makes recommendations about whether the inspector-general in its current form is fit for purpose.

The report is currently under consideration by the government. As the Deputy Prime Minister advised in his letter of 2 June provided to the Senate, in considering the review the government is consulting widely across stakeholders, including Defence, other agencies and the families of Australian Defence Force personnel who have lost their lives while serving. The government believes that it is important that this consultation be finalised to enable the completion of the government's response to the report. Further time is needed to undertake that work.

I'm advised that the government intends to respond to the order once that process is complete. I am further advised that Senator Lambie was offered and had accepted a confidential briefing on the review, including an opportunity to read the review, and I again reiterate the government's offer in relation to that. The offer remains open, and we are willing to extend that offer to any interested senator. It is the usual practice in receiving independent reviews for the government to take the necessary time to work through them and develop a response to the recommendations, and that is what is occurring here.