Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, , 4:12:50 to 5:04:05
Senator Shoebridge questions the government's transparency with the public regarding potential changes in the nuclear armament of visiting US submarines.
Topics: ADF, National security, International law
Speakers: David Shoebridge, Unknown Speaker, Meghan Quinn, Raff Ciccone, Hon Murray Watt, Hugh Jeffrey
>> And it's 1:00 so we do need a break for lunch. You just ask one last question
government statements, including coming from the foreign minister at the National Press Club address, made it clear that visiting US nuclear submarines would not be nuclear armed. Since then, the United States government has changed its policy, passed legislation, and committed to a multi-billion dollar program to enable some of its Virginia class submarines to carry nuclear weapons in the form of a sea launched ballistic missile. Given that has changed, what can you point to any point, any public statement, any utterance from any official or minister that has explained that change to the Australian public and particularly the people of Freemantle and Perth given the change of circumstances.
>> So I just draw your attention to the unfortunately you missed the the the the testimony of Mr. Jeff where he laid out the
>> No, no, no. I've se I've seen the transcript. None of that did that.
>> Uh then that's a matter of opinion. We have set out. Uh
>> it's not a matter of opinion. It's a
question done has been set out on the on the record in terms of the obligations under the treaty of Roratonga and uh and it's been very clear you've heard the minister talk about uh that no nuclear weapons won't be stationed in Australia.
>> All right. Come back to breaking for lunch and I'll see you on here at 150.
Thanks. 15 150
>> No, I know. Oh, tell you what.