When asked if the Australian parliament should decide whether to send soldiers to war, Labor MP Chris Bowen had nothing to add beyond directing our inquiry to Shadow Minister for Defence Brendan O’Connor. Mr O’Connor has previously told MWM that, “Whilst ideally any decision to go war should be debated and determined by parliament it is critical that the executive government has the requisite authority when there is an urgent need to determine this grave matter. If the executive government makes such a decision, it should do so as a decision of last resort, and it should be subject to parliamentary scrutiny as soon as practicable.”
Staff writers who have worked on one or more of our special investigative projects include Zacharias Zsumer (War Powers), Stephanie Tran, Tasha May and Luke Stacey.
