Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence. I refer the minister to an answer he gave on Lateline on 12 June when asked whether the ANZUS alliance commits Australia to support the United States if it is in a conflict in our region. The minister said, 'I do not believe it does.'

I also refer the minister to the Foreign Minister's statement about the ANZUS Treaty to the Canberra conference just four days later on 18 June where she said, 'At the heart of the treaty is a commitment to come to one another's AID in the worst of times.' Does the Defence Minister stand by his statement or is the Foreign Minister correct?

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

May I thank the shadow minister for attending a funeral yesterday in Gosford. The point about speculating and hypotheticals in what is our most important strategic relationship is, quite frankly, trite and not helpful. What was put to me was a hypothetical situation as to whether Australia was 'bound'—that was the word used by the journalist. The fact simply is that the alliance requires us to consult. Of course that is exactly what Australia and the United States would do in circumstances where there is a serious threat to the interests of either. We are not going to speculate about matters that are particularly and dangerously hypothetical.

Let's talk about this relationship. Australia has since 1952 had one of the strongest strategic alliances of any country in the world with the United States. It is a mutually beneficial relationship. Speculation as to the hypotheticals is simply not helpful. We get on with our business together. We do very, very good work together in maintaining and surveilling international stability—of course, for 11 years in Afghanistan and for many years in Iraq together. The senator would know that we have as a member of the Five Eyes community serious responsibility together to surveil counterterrorism activities. The relationship is a very strong one, and I particularly work very hard—almost every day—to make sure that relationship continues to be very successful.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a supplementary question—and I thank the minister for his courtesy in the matter of the funeral yesterday. Minister, Tony Jones asked you on that night: 'So, just to complete that answer, does the ANZUS alliance commit Australia or not if the United States is in a conflict in our region?' and you said, 'I don't believe it does.' So it is not as you described his question earlier. Do you stand by your position or is the Minister for Foreign Affairs right when she says, 'At the heart of the treaty is a commitment to come to one another's aid in the worst of times'? (Time expired)

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The problem with the senator's question is—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is your answer.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Wong!

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The circumstances surrounding an engagement by either of us in conflict will be varied and diversified. It is simply not helpful. But the question was: are we bound? We are bound to consult and, if our national interest is at stake, I think the answer is very, very obvious to everybody, given Australia's historical connection to the United States and our historical engagement with them in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, North Africa and wherever you went to look. We have a long and proud engagement with the United States in maintaining stability and peace throughout the world.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. I ask the minister for a third time: do you stand by your answer to Tony Jones when he asked you: 'So just to complete the answer, does the ANZUS alliance commit Australia or not if the United States is in a conflict in our region?' and you said, unambiguously, 'I don't believe it does.' Are you correct or is the Minister for Foreign Affairs correct when she says, 'At the heart of the treaty is a commitment to come to one another's aid in the worst of times'? Who should the Australian public believe? (Time expired)

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the senator's benefit, there are a number of circumstances spelt out in the clauses with in the ANZUS Treaty, and a direct attack upon the sovereignty of either nation is mentioned. That was not what was put to me. If the senator needs a lesson in the workings of the ANZUS Treaty, I refer you respectfully, as difficult as that might be, to the historical connection—and there has only been one occasion when we have enacted and responded pursuant to the treaty.

Let's just underline the national interest here. There is no national interest in us speculating about these matters. We have gone forward with the United States at every opportunity as a trusted friend and as a trusted ally, and I believe they are very happy with the way the ANZUS alliance is working.