Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, given the challenging security arrangements at home and abroad, what steps has the Prime Minister taken to repair our deteriorating relationships with Israel and the United States?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I find it absolutely extraordinary that the shadow minister for trade has asked a question about our deteriorating relationship with our most important partner, the United States, in the presence of a US congressperson. I refer to the comments of the Deputy Prime Minister, who spoke very clearly about the parties of government in Australia and the way that we deal with serious issues. Today, we have had question time begin with a question essentially seeking information from our intelligence agencies. In the answer that I gave, I quoted the former head of the intelligence committee who, on 2GB just this morning, outlined why, at that time and even since, he would not give that information about why decisions are made and that intelligence basis. That is the way that it operates between adults.

When it comes to the follow-up then, we had a question to the Deputy Prime Minister alleging something like a fake moon landing—that meetings that were held by the Deputy Prime Minister with the Vice President of the United States—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will pause. Members on my right, I'd like to hear from the Manager of Opposition Business.

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister is answering question 1 and question 2, but he isn't answering the current question. By his own confession, he's answering the previous questions. I ask the Prime Minister to answer the question that he has been asked now, because it's not commentary time; it's not lecture time—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat. The point of order was on relevance.

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, it was.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I took that straightaway. I don't know why that's funny. The Prime Minister's going to continue with his answer, and he's going to make sure that he's being directly relevant to the question he was asked about the relationships with Israel and the US.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thought he was going to move an extension of time! The relationship with the United States has been above partisan politics. When I was Leader of the Opposition, I received a phone call from then prime minister Scott Morrison. With 24 hours notice, I came to Canberra without knowing what the meeting was for and then had a briefing from our defence and intelligence agencies about the proposals that were in place about AUKUS. I kept that confidence about that briefing, convened a meeting of my shadow cabinet just one hour after the announcement and then had a full caucus meeting to back in the AUKUS arrangements. That is how we dealt with the US relationship. We continue to be proud of the fact that the relationship with the United States is our most important, and it is extraordinary that you would come in here and attempt to undermine it. (Time expired)

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! We're just moving on. I'd like to hear from the member for Braddon.