Bill Debate · Third Reading
Senate · Tuesday 3 March 2026
Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia
The Senate debated the third reading of the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence) Bill 2025. The Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme moved the motion for the bill to be read a third time. Two Greens senators opposed the bill, arguing it reduced transparency and accountability regarding military interventions, particularly in the context of recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran. They contended that the bill would create a secretive committee structure that fails to provide adequate public oversight of defence decisions and Australia's involvement in conflicts.
The transcript does not state the final result of the vote.
Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.
Opened the debate
McAllister moved that the bill be read a third time. As the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, McAllister formally initiated the final stage of the legislative process for the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence) Bill 2025. No further substantive arguments were presented by McAllister in the provided transcript.
Shoebridge argued that the bill established a secretive committee dominated by major parties, which he claimed would facilitate support for illegal wars. Shoebridge criticised the government for failing to condemn recent US and Israeli military actions against Iran, stating that international law was being ignored. Shoebridge asserted that the conflict was driven by US power rather than democracy or nuclear non-proliferation, and he accused the government of hypocrisy regarding Israel's nuclear arsenal.
Hodgins-May argued that the bill reduced democratic oversight of military power at a time when transparency was urgently needed. Hodgins-May questioned whether Australian facilities at Pine Gap were involved in recent strikes on Iran and called for a commitment to prevent Australian soil from facilitating unlawful military action. Hodgins-May stated that the Greens opposed the bill because it entrenched secrecy and failed to hold the government accountable for its alignment with US and Israeli military objectives.