Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

  (i) that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) cannot turn, cannot climb, cannot run and cannot fight according to multiple reports from defence experts, and

  (ii) an article in The Australian on 22 March 2017, which added to the litany of things the JSF cannot do, by confirming that it would not carry cluster munitions and therefore "would struggle to hit a moderately slow moving target such as a car";

(b) welcomes:

  (i) the decision not to equip the JSF with an inhumane and internationally-banned weapon, and

  (ii) the fact that the JSF is therefore less capable of killing people;

(c) notes that, in spite of this welcome news, the JSF remains a $17 billion waste of taxpayer money; and

(d) urges the Government not to proceed with such a profligate and unnecessary waste.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The F-35 is an in-production, fifth generation combat aircraft and is capable of highly sophisticated manoeuvres and combat activity. There have been more than 200 F-35 aircraft delivered, with these aircraft now operating in the US, Italy, Israel and Japan. The coalition government is making unprecedented investment in this nation's defence, and the F-35 is the most capable and lethal aircraft to deter and defeat future adversaries. The F-35 is the most affordable stealth aircraft to meet the full range of threats Australia is likely to face in the future.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Whilst I and my colleagues support some of the sentiment of this motion, we cannot support the language. It is our view that, whilst remaining in the F-35 program, Australia should, in cooperation with the Canadians, who are running a competition, reopen and compete for the new combat air capability. What we say is required is, firstly, hedging against further program schedule slippage with an interim aircraft type; secondly, negotiating a fixed-price contract with the inclusion of liquidated damages for schedule and technical performance shortfalls; and, thirdly, ensuring we have appropriate IP rights in place before signing any further contracts for aircraft.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Ludlum be agreed to.