Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong. Do you agree with the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell, that the United States is not Australia's most trusted ally? If not, will you call on Senator Farrell to withdraw his controversial remark?

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

I welcome the question from the Acting Leader of the Opposition. I would note that it demonstrates, yet again, why those opposite are not fit for government. They are not interested in the major geostrategic challenges of the day, they're not interested in the cost of living—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was your minister who made the comment.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, you've asked your question.

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

and they want to continue to focus on an issue which Senator Farrell has responded to. I think we all know that the Kiwis are family. We all know that. Everyone also knows that the United States is our closest ally and our principal strategic partner—

Opposition senators interjecting—

and that generally, under both parties of government, there has been bipartisan support for the ANZUS alliance, the US alliance—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I raise a point of order, President. I can't hear the minister's response.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have been calling the chamber to order.

Thank you, Senator McKenzie! Please continue, Senator Wong.

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

I have been in this portfolio and in the shadow trade portfolio previously, and I have seen, on both sides of politics, bipartisan support for the US alliance and a contribution from both sides of politics to ensuring that it continues to be deep and strong and modern, and that Australians continue to gain the benefit of that relationship with our principal strategic partner. But, on a range of fronts this week, what we have seen is the opposition seeking to play partisan politics with the US alliance, which I think demonstrates, yet again, that under the wrecking ball that is Mr Dutton they are prepared recklessly to politicise anything, recklessly to fight about anything, regardless of whether or not it's good for the country. They're not fit for government.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, first supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How do Senator Farrell's remarks help to secure the transfer of knowledge and technology from the United States that the AUKUS partnership depends upon?

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

Again, what I would say to Senator Cash is that maybe she should be winding back some of the people on her side who are trying to undermine our engagement with the United States, including ensuring that the congress passes legislation to give effect to AUKUS. There are some things that should be above politics.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I raise a point of order in relation to relevance. The question goes to Senator Farrell's remarks as a government minister—not anybody in the opposition. You are in government.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order across the chamber! Senator Cash, you also went to the AUKUS arrangements, which Senator Wong was speaking about, so I believe she is being relevant to the question.

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

You talk about AUKUS, you put AUKUS on the table, and then you get annoyed when I defend it. It's extraordinary. We are doing the work on this side of the chamber and in Washington and in the United Kingdom in order to ensure that we assure a capability and a relationship, in the context of a relationship which is so important for Australia's security. And what we have across the chamber is a party led by a wrecking ball—I'm speaking of Mr Dutton; not you, Senator Cash—who's prepared to politicise anything. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, second supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, you've often said, 'In diplomacy, words matter.' Do you still believe that, in diplomacy, words such as the ones that Senator Farrell used on Monday and has refused to withdraw matter? If you do, then why won't you act?

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

The shadow minister might want to recall those famous words, 'I don't think; I know,' when she reminds us about diplomacy. What I would say to the senator is that we know you are confecting an argument where there is none. We know that for the third day now you are confecting an argument. You know that the Kiwis are our family, and you know that the commitment to the US alliance is unshakable—unshakable on this side. But you are deliberately seeking to confect outrage at a time when we are hosting the UK foreign secretary and defence secretary, because we are serious about making sure that we deliver AUKUS, deliver the technology transfer and deliver a sovereign capability, and we will do all we can to ensure Australia's security in these times.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hughes, I'm going to ask you to withdraw those comments.

Hollie Hughes (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.