Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2020. Defending Australia, its people and its interests is the government's highest priority and most important responsibility. No decision to deploy the ADF into an armed conflict is ever taken lightly. The Albanese government has responded to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade's inquiry into international armed conflict decision-making. As the Deputy Prime Minister has said, it is appropriate that decisions to enter into international armed conflict and the deployment of the ADF overseas remain a decision of the executive.

In 2023, the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade's inquiry recommended that the power to send ADF personnel into armed conflicts should continue to be exercised collectively via the National Security Committee of cabinet. The Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee has previously determined not to progress this bill for a range of reasons, which are set out in its report. Existing arrangements allow the government of the day to act decisively and respond flexibly to contingencies when they arise. The Albanese government acknowledges that this should not detract from the important role of the parliament in holding the executive to account for the decisions it has taken. There must be an appropriate balance between enabling the government of the day to respond to challenges to our national interest and security and ensuring the government has effective mechanisms to examine and debate those decisions.