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

Senator Payman, I appreciate that you don't support AUKUS, but I think—if I may—that the tone of your last question flies in the face of what you're proposing in your first. We are in the process of an engagement with the US administration. We will do so, very clearly, in Australia's national interest. We will do so professionally and we will do so consistently. In terms of AUKUS, I appreciate that you have a different view to the government's. We believe AUKUS is in Australia's national interest. We also believe it is an important aspect of our relationship with the United States and the United Kingdom. On this, we are not going to agree. I disagree with what you've put in your question. We'll continue to engage, as is appropriate, with our principal strategic ally and the world's largest economic power.