House of Representatives on Wednesday 13th May 2020

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Those who serve in this House and the other place all have a high view of this country. We've all taken an oath to serve the Australian people and we want the best for Australia—an Australia that is competitive, prosperous, respected and sovereign—so it is troubling when prominent Australians talk our country down in public to the watching world. I refer to the comments made this morning by Ms Helen Sawczak, the National CEO of the Australia China Business Council, in a Huawei online discussion. In that discussion she described 'little Australia' as a 'shag on a rock'. This demonstrated, in my view, a low estimation of our country. She denigrated our security and law enforcement agencies, suggesting that their concerns around Australia's security run contrary to our economic interests and that, if they were managing our economic interests, 'this country would go down the gurgler'.

As Chair of the Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I'd like to make clear my full support for the ASIO Director-General, Mike Burgess; the ASIS Director-General, Paul Symon; the AFP Commissioner, Reece Kershaw; and the people they lead, who devote their time and energy to keeping the Australian people safe. I know who I'd rather have watching my back.