Labor MP Graham Perrett is happy with the executive maintaining the authority to deploy troops without parliamentary approval. He provided Michael West Media with the following response:
I am personally happy with the Executive making the decision. It is important that the Executive can respond promptly to hostility when necessary. However, they should consult and inform the Parliament throughout the entire process. Private briefings should be given to the bipartisan Security Committee of any escalation of hostility. In 1940 at the urging of John Curtin, the then Labor Opposition Leader, Menzies formed an Advisory War Council comprising members of the government and opposition. Such an advisory committee would be appropriate in any prolonged conflict.
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.
