Independent Senator for South Australia Rex Patrick believes that Parliament should be consulted before Australian troops are sent into armed conflict abroad, unless there is immediate danger to Australia.
Senator Patrick told Michael West Media that in a war of choice he believed the permission of the parliament ought to be sought, but in the case of self defence, parliament shouldn’t need to be consulted, as if there was imminent danger and a pre-emptive attack was required ,that is something the nation wouldn’t want to signal to the enemy.