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

My question is for the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, under AUKUS the government is pursuing the acquisition of eight nuclear powered submarines. Are these submarines safe for Australian submariners and all who work on building and sustaining them?

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

I have to say, for a senior member of the coalition—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order!

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

I think it's interesting that Senator Cash says that calling her a senior member of the coalition is demeaning. I didn't think that was, but I'll leave that to her. To use something as important as AUKUS, which has—

May I finish? You asked the question, Senator Cash. To ask a question on a policy which was introduced by your government, which has bipartisan support, which goes to the national security and strategic circumstances of this nation, in order to try and utilise it in a domestic debate to cover up the shambles of a policy you have announced is really not befitting of a party that's serious about national security. It's not befitting. You and I both know—

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Cash?

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

President, the point of order is in relation to relevance. Whilst I know the Leader of the Government in the Senate likes to indulge in the odd personal attack, that was not what the question was. It was in relation to making sure Australians understand the government's position in relation to whether the eight nuclear powered submarines are actually safe for those working on them.

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

I believe the minister is being relevant and I will continue to listen carefully.

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

I have to say that the quip about personal attacks, from a senior member of Peter Dutton's team, after the weekend—I don't know if that was an attempt at humour, but we thought it was quite amusing! Senator, you would be aware that, when the AUKUS position was announced, your then Prime Minister—and I'm not sure if you were in the National Security Committee at the time, but certainly the decision of your National Security Committee—

An honourable senator interjecting

No. I just can't recall whether she was. Your Prime Minister, Prime Minister Morrison, announced the position of your government, which was that AUKUS would not involve the establishment of a civil nuclear industry. We very carefully went through the reasons for that. I look forward to— (Time expired)

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

Senator Cash, a first supplementary question?

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

Minister, last week a number of government and Labor members of parliament posted social media messages, including the depiction of Australian cartoon character Blinky Bill with three eyes, suggesting that nuclear energy generation is unsafe. Will the minister denounce these acts and instruct Labor MPs to cease such juvenile behaviour?

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

I'm not sure how that is supplementary to an AUKUS question, President.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order!

Senator McKenzie, it does apply to you. Minister Wong has questioned whether that is a supplementary question to your first question, Senator Cash. I've sought the advice of the Clerk, and it is related to the first question.

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

I will make this point: if the senator wishes to talk about responsibility then perhaps the senator should reflect on utilising AUKUS, which is such a necessary and crucial aspect of our forward planning for the security of our nation, in a domestic political debate. We are working very hard—

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

Order! Senator Ruston, if that was a personal reflection on the minister, I am going to ask you to withdraw that.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

Minister Wong has finished her answer. Senator Cash, a second supplementary?

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

Minister, won't nuclear scare campaigns make it harder to recruit the thousands of people that Australia needs to build, operate and sustain nuclear submarines? Why is the Prime Minister, with this 'lighten up' attitude, condoning the playing of politics with our national security needs?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order on my right and my left!

Senator Cash, you have asked the question. I am waiting for silence before I call the minister.

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

What I would say to senior members of the coalition—

Gerard Rennick (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about junior members?

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

I love you too! What I would say to senior members of the coalition is we are very happy to have bipartisanship on the largest project that Australia has ever undertaken. It's the largest undertaking this country has ever undertaken both as a proportion of GDP and in nominal figures and in terms of the sheer scale of the task. I would have hoped that, despite whatever debate we have about energy, there might be some modicum of responsibility from the people who want to run this country on national security. But it is clear, as Mr Dutton was on the PM, that they have no line and they are prepared try to play politics with our national security. We are not. (Time expired)