The political gulf between the major parties on whether to launch naval and air challenges to China over its artificial islands has deepened dramatically with Malcolm Turnbull slamming Labor's more hawkish stance as showing "immaturity and unreadiness" to take responsibility for national security.
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Labor defence spokesman Richard Marles made it clear on Tuesday that it would always be a government decision whether or not such a challenge were launched by Australian military ships and planes, though operational details would be a matter for the Australian Defence Force.
Mr Marles told Fairfax media last week that the Navy and Air Force should be "fully authorised" to carry out high-stakes "freedom-of-navigation operations" in which a ship or plane is sent within 12 nautical miles of one of China's man-made islands in the South China Sea to demonstrate that Australia regards those waters as international.
Former prime minister Paul Keating launched a broadside at Mr Marles' position on Tuesday, telling The Australian that the shadow defence minister was wrong if he was suggesting the decision to carry out the patrols should be an operational one left to the military, rather than a political decision by the government.
But clarifying his position, Mr Marles said on Tuesday that "operational details are a matter for ADF, but of course ultimate approval is a matter for government, and we would act consistently with the practice of previous governments".
He added that "Labor supports freedom of navigation in accordance with international law".
A spokesman for Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Mr Marles' position was in step with the party leader's and that of foreign affairs spokeswoman, Penny Wong.
Mr Turnbull had earlier backed Mr Keating's attack, saying that "decisions of that kind should be taken by politicians. They should be taken by governments. They should be taken by prime ministers and cabinets and defence ministers".
But Mr Turnbull sidestepped articulating the government's position on such patrols, saying only that all parties should abide by international law in the South China Sea.
"Frankly, while being in opposition gives you certain liberties, it isn't very promising for a party that claims to be an alternative government to be canvassing matters like this in the highly political way they are. It shows a real immaturity and unreadiness to take responsibility for these issues."
And Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Mr Marles' call for such challenges to Beijing would "escalate tensions".
"I call on the Leader of the Opposition to confirm that it is Labor's policy that the Australian Navy should sail within 12 nautical miles of contested features in the South China Sea, something Australia has not ever done before," she said.
"Australia should be seeking to de-escalate tensions in the region. Australia is not a claimant state. Australia should not take sides. We should continue to urge all parties to conduct peaceful negotiations between the claimants."
The United States has carried out variations of such operations within the crucial 12-mile zone – which under international law is the territorial waters generated by sovereignty over a land feature – at least twice.
