House debates

Monday, 22 July 2019

Questions without Notice

National Security

2:10 pm

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

It will be much less lofty now, I suspect, Mr Speaker.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

It doesn't have to be!

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

We'll see the answer. My question is to the Prime Minister and it goes to national security. Does the Prime Minister doubt which side people are on when they support the unanimous position of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security?

2:11 pm

Photo of Scott MorrisonScott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question and for raising the role of the joint standing committee. The joint standing committee on these matters does important work in this parliament, and, when members come to that committee, they bring forward the positions of their various parties to address the national security issues the country faces. What I have noted in my time in this place is that it has always been those who sit on this side of the House who have brought the stronger position. It is always those who sit on this side of the House with the measures that we've brought before that committee. The matters have been sought to be watered down. Therefore it is always going to be the action of my government to ensure that, where those matters are watered down, we will always seek to remedy it—

Photo of Mark DreyfusMark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | | Hansard source

What rubbish!

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs is warned!

Photo of Scott MorrisonScott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

and always keep Australia strong.