MATTERS OF URGENCY

Senator CICCONE (Victoria) (17:01): From the outset, I want to say, as a member of the committee that's looking into this matter, that I think as senators we'll be looking forward to the committee's report and looking at all the facts that will be presented to this fine institution when that time comes. As I understand, we are due to report soon, and hopefully senators will have an opportunity then to look at the entirety of what is presented for us to consider with respect to the Defence estate audit.

I've had the privilege, with many of the committee members, to visit a number of sites. Obviously certain sites have a lot of heritage associated with them, and I'd say that there's a lot of proud history—that men and women before us have used those sites to defend our great country. But it's wrong to suggest that the Defence estate process is one that cannot and should not be reviewed on a regular basis by the government of the day.

The previous Howard government looked at this issue, because our defence needs to remain modern, needs to remain capable, needs to be vigilant and needs to be capable of taking the opportunities we have to present ourselves, particularly on the current geopolitical issues that we are currently facing as a country and as part of the region that we live in. We cannot put our head in the sand and pretend that the dynamic, the environment around us, has not changed over the last couple of decades.

It is important for every senator in this place to also ask the question: for our defence force, for the fine men and women who serve in the ADF, who put on that uniform every single day, what do we—as a government and as a parliament—want to present them in terms of our infrastructure, in terms of the capability that we give them to defend our great country?

It's important, when we look at the highest priority that we could impose on the men and women who put on that ADF uniform every day, that it's the national security of this country that is front and centre of our minds. We are elected to protect the people. We are elected to protect this country.

We are elected to protect the interests of this nation, and as federal members of parliament our national security has to be No. 1. But we also need to make sure we have a defence force that is modern and has the equipment, has the sites that are adequately serviced and maintained. There is no point having sites that are lacking any real infrastructure or lacking in maintenance.

We have heard a lot of evidence before the committee, and I don't want to pre-empt what the committee will present in its report to this place. I think it's important—and I must say a bit premature, Senator Lambie, through you, Acting Deputy President O'Neill—that we wait for this report of the committee to come before the Senate for us to look at the evidence that is presented.

I should note it is a committee that is run and chaired by the opposition and the crossbench. So you should have faith, Senator Lambie—through you, Acting Deputy President—in the process. The process is that the committee— Senator Lambie: There are for sale signs.

There's no process. Senator CICCONE: Let the committee do its job. Then let's debate those facts here once the report has been tabled in this chamber.

I do worry about where this process is heading. Are we really prepared to put this report into the chamber and have every single senator look at the evidence before it, acknowledging that it is a committee that is chaired by the opposition? I know you and many others have made a wonderful contribution to that process so far, but let's have that debate once the report has been provided to this chamber.

There is no point prematurely having a debate about something that we can't talk about because the Senate committee that has been tasked by this Senate has not had an opportunity to present its report for senators to consider where we are heading. I'd simply say, Senator Lambie, it is important that you have put this motion to the Senate—I 100 per cent agree—but we also need to be mindful that we have processes in place for a reason.

The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, will present its report on the defence estate audit, hopefully, soon for all of us in this place to consider and then properly scrutinise and then make the very points that you are wanting to make. There are a couple of committee members who are here, present, but others are not. They're not privy to that at the moment.

I just wish we were able to have that conversation in some weeks. (Time expired)