Question Time AU

Bill Debate · Second Reading

Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence) Bill 2025; Second Reading

House of Representatives · Wednesday 5 November 2025

Continued from Thursday 30 October 2025.

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

The debate concerned the establishment of a new Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence to enhance oversight of defence decisions. The government supported the bill as a necessary measure for transparency in a complex strategic environment. Opposition members supported the principle of the committee but insisted it remain bipartisan, excluding crossbenchers and Greens members due to policy differences on defence spending and alliances. One independent member opposed the bill, arguing it undermined individual rights and criticised current defence procurement and gun laws.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Continued the debate

Tim Watts (Gellibrand) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

Watts argued that the bill establishes essential parliamentary accountability for defence decisions at a time of heightened global conflict and strategic uncertainty. Watts stated the committee would fill a gap in the oversight framework by enabling scrutiny of classified matters, similar to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. Watts highlighted that the committee would oversee the Australian Defence Force, the Department of Defence, and key agencies, including the Australian Submarine Agency. Watts linked the need for oversight to the government's significant investments in northern base hardening and regional defence partnerships, noting that previous delays had left bases vulnerable.

Opposition response

Melissa Price (Durack) (Liberal Party) Liberal

Price supported the bill in principle but emphasised that the committee must remain bipartisan, limited to government and opposition parties. Price argued that including Greens members would risk diluting consensus on defence capability and deterrence, citing their policies to cut spending and cancel AUKUS. Price highlighted the coalition's commitment to spending three per cent of GDP on defence and warned that AUKUS should not come at the expense of other defence capabilities. Price called for the committee to strengthen Australia's defence force rather than weaken established conventions.