War powers

Update here.

At present, Australia can be taken to war by - as the media reports it - the Prime Minister (it was might actually be the executive). There are strong concerns about this - other than in the case of a defensive response to a direct attack on our territory - in many sections of the community, including a movement pushing for change on this within the ALP - which has not been included in the official ALF national platform (although Chapter 7 talks about independent foreign policies, ability to defend ourselves, and respect for the international rules-based order). 

The Greens have introduced a motion to limit those war powers and ensure we only go to offensive (I have not read the motion, so I have assumed it is limited to that) war after a debate. Independents like Senator  Rex  Patrick (a former submariner in our navy who uses a phrase made famous by the now effectively defunct Australian Democrats) will probably provide reassurance on whether the detail of that motion is acceptable that to unaligned voters.

It will be a debate to follow - and one that voters should contact their Senators about their views.