Senate debates Bills

Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Bill 2020, Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020; In Committee


Janet Rice

Janet Rice Victoria, Australian Greens

7:05 pm

Minister, there is an extraordinarily broad definition of 'Australia's foreign policy' in this bill. Can you tell me what ensures, for the purposes of this framework, that that's going to be a meaningful definition? As to 'foreign policy', what is going to be in place to ensure that it doesn't change from week to week or even minute to minute? Will there be any public guidance on what Australia's foreign policy is, given that the whole basis of the bill is that these arrangements can be overturned on the basis that they are inconsistent with Australia's foreign policy?

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