QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:05): Again, what I'd say to the senator is that the relationship with Japan is something that has strengthened since we have been in government, that we engage closely and regularly, that the Prime Minister regards Prime Minister Takaichi as a personal friend as well as a friend of our nation, and that we are grateful for the close relationship we have.

I know that there's a lot of division and unrest in opposition ranks, which has been spoken about, but I don't believe that distracting from that by diminishing Australia's relationships is responsible.