Senator BARTLETT (Leader of the Australian Democrats) (2:23 PM) —My question is addressed to Senator Hill, representing the Prime Minister. I draw the minister's attention to statements made on 30 January by White House press secretary Ari Fleischer stating that the US policy on the use of nuclear weapons against Iraq was to not rule anything in and not rule anything out. I also draw the minister's attention to the comments made on 2 February by the UK Secretary of State for Defence that Iraq can be absolutely confident that the UK would use nuclear weapons in the right conditions. Given that the Prime Minister said on the 7.30 Report on 23 January that, if he thought nuclear weapons were going to be used, he would not allow Australian forces to be involved full stop, and given the repeated refusal from the US and the UK to rule out the possibility of using nuclear weapons, how does the Prime Minister justify the deployment of Australian troops in this circumstance? How does he substantiate his view that nuclear weapons will definitely not be used?

Senator HILL (Minister for Defence) —I think that the Prime Minister was responding to the earlier statements made by Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz. He was asked in an interview by Kerry O'Brien, `In what circumstances would America consider using nuclear weapons in Iraq?' He answered: `We don't have any need for that. We have every capability we require with our conventional armed forces.' That seems to me to be pretty clear-cut. I think that that was probably the basis upon which the Prime Minister made his statements.

Senator BARTLETT —Thank you, Minister Hill. If you could perhaps check with the Prime Minister that that is the full basis of the Prime Minister's confidence, I would appreciate you informing the Senate of that, because it seems pretty flimsy to me. Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Given the comments from the UK government, clearly not ruling things out, will the Prime Minister, on his international visits next week, seek full assurances from the President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief of their armed forces, and from Prime Minister Blair, that they will not use nuclear weapons under any circumstances in any action against Iraq? Will he promise to withdraw Australian troops from the Gulf if no such assurance is given?

Senator HILL (Minister for Defence) —As I said, I think, from what the Prime Minister said, that he is satisfied that nuclear weapons will not be used. But if Senator Bartlett is asking the Prime Minister to ask it specifically of the President of the United States, then I will ensure that Senator Bartlett's request is taken to the Prime Minister.