Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, I'd say, regarding the examples that Senator Payman seeks to identify as corrupt behaviour including a blowout of $18 billion, that if she does believe that that is corruption then she should refer that matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. In relation to AUKUS, we are proud supporters of AUKUS. We believe it is in our national interest and our national security interest to have the AUKUS program. I think, in terms of Senator Payman being a senator from WA, there are significant economic benefits from AUKUS, including jobs and opportunities, in her home state of WA. We do not agree at all that the resourcing going in to support the delivery of AUKUS in any way constitutes—as she is seeking to smear it as—inappropriate allocation of resources.