David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Wong, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Minister, Palantir builds the tools that ICE uses to deport people from the US. It's been linked to targeting in Gaza. Yet your government has just handed a multimillion-dollar Defence contract with no tender to Palantir. What would it take for your government to have the leadership to say no to Palantir?

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

Senator, I understand that you are asking me about Defence procurement. I don't have any further information in relation to that particular contract, but I'll see what I can provide to you on notice.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Shoebridge, first supplementary?

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, the Greens have called for an immediate moratorium on new Palantir contracts and a full public audit of every existing one, with the findings to be tabled in parliament. Given your government can't point to a single ethics or risk assessment of Palantir, given how little you seem to know about it, will you commit today to a moratorium on all further contracts with this noxious corporation and a review of those already signed? If not, why not?

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

You're correct, Senator; I do represent the Minister for Defence. I'm not the Minister for Defence, and I don't have a detailed knowledge of this contract, and that is not unusual. I understand from Senator McAllister that you did ask some questions about this at Senate estimates, where Senator McAllister represents the Minister for Defence. As I said in my earlier answer, if I can find further information for you on notice, I will do so.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Shoebridge, second supplementary?

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Minister. To assist, your government has spent around $60 million of public money on contracts with Palantir. The Future Fund, under your government, holds more than $160 million worth of shares in the company. Yet not a single document has been provided to the public assessing whether this is ethical or responsible. Can you confirm that no ethics or risk assessment has ever been conducted on Palantir by your government? If so, how can your government claim it has exercised due diligence over a US owned company embedded inside Defence? (Time expired)

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

Senator, you would be aware that we do have procurement arrangements and a procurement framework which goes to some of the issues you've identified. I refer you to my earlier answer, which is that I will provide information to you if I can obtain it.