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

I wish to add to an answer to a question Senator Shoebridge asked me about Australian personnel embedded on US submarines in the region on 5 March. In addition to what I have outlined in question time today, I wish to add to my answer. In particular, I indicated in that answer that we do not disclose specific information regarding Australian personnel on defence operations. This is the usual practice for operational and security reasons.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister determined, following a meeting of the NSC, that it was in the public interest to disclose the presence of Australian personnel. Defence personnel have been embedded with other nations for decades, and there are longstanding and strict rules around these deployments, under which Australian personnel are required to comply with Australian law, policy and direction. I also refer you to statements in the subsequent answer. For the benefit of the chamber, I want to clarify I was referencing broader statements of the US administration about its intent for the next phase of the current conflict.