Senate debates

Thursday, 14 May 2020

Motions

Australia-United States of America Relationship: 80th Anniversary

12:16 pm

Photo of Larissa WatersLarissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

It's good to see the government recognising the importance of the Senate considering foreign policy motions at last. We oppose this motion but won't deny formality; we would rather put our position on the record. This motion celebrates that Australian and US forces have fought alongside each other in every significant conflict since World War I. The Greens think the US military alliance makes us less safe, not more. As we have long said, it's time for Australia to stop unquestioningly doing the bidding of the US and chart its own independent foreign policy course. The importance of this couldn't be more evident with the erratic and dangerous Trump as president, but it will continue to matter when he's out of the White House. Moreover, the Australian parliament must debate and vote on new military actions and deployments that put our servicemen and women in harm's way.

Question agreed to.

Comments

No comments