Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis, representing the Prime Minister. Can the Attorney-General outline the importance to Australia's national interests of maintaining bipartisanship on matters of national security?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is absolutely vital. We can have our disputes about domestic policy. We can have our disputes about the management of the economy. But when it comes to Australia presenting a face to the world, Australia is only ever strengthened when there is bipartisanship on issues of national security. The Australian Labor Party has generally accepted that when they have been in opposition, as my side of politics has always accepted it when we have been in opposition, but I am sorry to say that in recent weeks we have seen that attitude break down.

Australians deserve to have every confidence, whatever party is in government and whatever party is for the time being in opposition, that its leaders will act in the national interest. At the heart of our national interest is our alliance with the United States of America, an alliance formed by the ANZUS Treaty in 1951—that crowning achievement of the diplomacy of the Menzies government—which has been supported—

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

It was Curtin.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am sorry, Senator Wong, but in 1951 Mr Curtin was not the Prime Minister; Sir Robert Menzies was the Prime Minister who negotiated the ANZUS Treaty of 1951.

So, it is vital that both sides of politics give their steadfast support to the American alliance. What that means is that the measure of our commitment to that alliance does not wax and wane according to the personality of the President—for the time being—of the United States of America.

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

Senator Back, a supplementary question?

Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Attorney-General for that explanation and ask him: is he is aware of any threats to Australia's longstanding bipartisan approach to national security?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I am, and that threat is presented by the weakness, division and opportunism of the Australian Labor Party—the alternative government—and Mr Bill Shorten in particular. As I said in response to the initial question, the commitment of both sides of politics, both the government and the alternative government of Australia, ought not depend upon whether they like the personality, the attitudes or the policies of the President of the United States of America for the time being. Whatever side of politics forms the administration in the United States, and whatever side of politics forms the government in Australia, that relationship must endure, it must be strong and it must be supported by both sides of politics.

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

Senator Back, a final supplementary question?

Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the Attorney-General aware of any other threats that might befall Australia?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I am sorry, I am. Not only did we have, last week, Senator Wong's extremely poorly judged op-ed in the Fairfax press, in which she made the Labor Party's commitment to the American alliance conditional upon the President of the United States by declaring the election of Mr Donald Trump as President as a 'change point', but also, the previous week, at the Labor Party's caucus meeting, they decided to seek to oppose and to undermine the government's latest measure to keep our borders secure. So, twice in two weeks the Australian Labor Party has broken ranks, has broken bipartisanship on national security—last week on the US alliance and the week before that on border protection, both of which are essential to Australia's national security. (Time expired)