Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Yesterday the United States elected Donald Trump, a man who ran a disgusting campaign based on racism, anti-Semitism, misogyny, xenophobia and nationalism. The US is now set to become an unpredictable and dangerous player in world affairs. It prompted Minister Frydenberg to call him a 'drop kick'. It prompted Minister Pyne to call him 'terrifying'. Minister, will you now explain how the Turnbull government will respond to a Trump presidency, with particular reference to Australia's defence alliance and whether it is now time to re-evaluate our security relationship?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the Australian Greens for his question. I want to acknowledge the election of President-elect Donald Trump and congratulate him on that outcome.

The Australia-US alliance has seen changes of government on both sides of the Pacific multiple times over the last 65 years, and the outcome has continued to be that the alliance continues to grow, to deepen and indeed to strengthen. In fact, over the last year alone I have forged a very strong relationship with their current Secretary of Defence, Ashton Carter. I look forward to that continuing through the transition period until the commencement of the inauguration process, and then of course to forming a similar strong relationship with the new Secretary of Defence as Australian defence ministers have done decade in and decade out.

As we outlined in the 2016 Defence white paper, the US continues to be our most important strategic partner through this longstanding alliance. The presence of the United States in this region has underpinned its stability for decades as well. We have fought side-by-side in every major conflict since World War I. We will continue to work side-by-side as we now do today—literally today—in the Middle East. We will counter shared threats and support global stability.

Indeed, I think we need to have a positive approach to engaging with the new Republican administration. I think we need to acknowledge the strength and depth of our relationship. We need to take the opportunity to build new personal relationships, to continue to engage and to interact in the ways that I have described. I have absolute confidence that our engagement with the United States will remain strong. (Time expired)

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

Senator Di Natale, a supplementary question.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the minister noted, we are the only country to have fought alongside the US in every major conflict since World War I. Will the minister continue this policy and deploy Australian troops, and risk Australian lives, simply on the judgement of President Trump?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let me begin by very clearly saying that I absolutely reject the premise of Senator Di Natale's question.

Australia makes its own decisions in relation to its international engagements. It makes its own decisions, based on an assessment of our own security position, based on an assessment of the strategic relationships which we have and the challenges which we face from time to time internationally. All of those decisions are made, taking into account Australia's national security first and foremost.

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

Senator Di Natale, a further supplementary question.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the minister's response, I seek leave to move a motion relating to the Australia-US alliance.

Leave not granted.