Shortly before the end of Question Time, Opposition Leader and former Defense Minister Peter Dutton rose to support his successor Richard Marles’ comments on national security.
Marles spoke about the volatile international environment Australia must navigate, including our relationship with China.
“As China seeks to shape the world around it, that poses problems for Australia, particularly because China is our largest trading partner. And we value a productive relationship with China and want to see that relationship in a better place,” said Marles.
Richard Marles, second from right, at a Five Power Defense Agreement meeting with Peeni Henare of New Zealand, Hishammuddin Hussein of Malaysia, Ng Eng Hen of Singapore and British High Commissioner to Singapore Kara Owen. Credit: AP
“But while the Australian government has changed, our national interests have not and the Albanian government is committed to defending Australia’s national interest, particularly when this differs from the actions of other countries, including China “.
He referred to the importance of the Prime Minister’s various diplomatic visits recently, including meeting Quad partners Australia, the US, India and Japan, and strengthening relations in the Pacific .
Dutton indulgently rose to support Marles.
“It is important for us to have the strongest possible relationship with our allies, not only the United States and the United Kingdom, but India, Japan and others in the region, and we will support any action that the government take to make the decisions to keep our country safe in a very uncertain world,” he said.