Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

I present the government response to the report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee on the provisions of the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023 and a related bill. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to have the document incorporated into Hansard.

Leave granted.

The document read as follows—

Australian Government response to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee report:

Inquiry into Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023 [Provisions] and Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 [Provisions]

SEPTEMBER 2024

Introduction

On 16 November 2023 the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, introduced the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023 [Provisions] and Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 [Provisions] (together, the ANNPS bills).

These bills are a significant legislative step in delivering a conventionally armed, nuclear- powered submarine capability for Australia under AUKUS, building on the Defence Legislation Amendment (Naval Nuclear Propulsion) Act 2023.

The legislation is specifically focused on ensuring Australia maintains the highest level of nuclear safety in respect of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines by establishing a new regulatory framework, including an independent regulator, to ensure nuclear safety within Australia's conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine enterprise.

The Senate referred the ANNPS bills to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 26 April 2024.

On 16 April 2024, the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee tabled a progress report requesting to extend the reporting date. The Committee subsequently tabled its final report on 13 May 2024.

The Government's response to the recommendations of the Report follows below. The Government thanks the Committee for its work on the bills.

Government Response to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Report:

Inquiry into Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023 [Provisions] and Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 [Provisions]

Dissenting Recommendations (Australian Greens)

The Government notes the comments and recommendations in the Australian Greens' Dissenting Report, and further notes that the stated policy position of The Greens is that Australia should withdraw from the AUKUS Agreement. While the Government does not agree with this position, a substantive response to the recommendations is provided below.

Additional comments by Senator Lidia Thorpe

The Government notes the additional comments by Senator Thorpe, in particular the Senator's stated opposition to AUKUS. While the Government does not agree with this position, a substantive response to the Senator's recommendations is provided below.