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

I'd make a few points, if I may, Senator Shoebridge. The first is on the question of sovereignty. Unlike you, we do not believe that sovereignty means isolation. What it does mean is that Australian governments can make their decisions about what Australia does or does not do. And I would refer you, because, I assume, you do look at these matters, to the various statements that the Deputy Prime Minister has made, including in the House—my recollection is: a ministerial statement or similar—where he outlines the way in which the sovereignty arrangements have been updated for us, for the country, in relation to AUKUS but built on the existing sovereignty arrangements which exist. So I disagree with you on the basic premise of your question, which I think sets up a false binary that says: 'You can't have an alliance and be a sovereign nation.' Actually, alliances are about protecting your sovereignty, because they are about making sure that you can— (Time expired)