Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I should point out that members opposite had six years in which to make a decision about the future submarines. What they did was they sat on their hands for six long years. The process that the Leader of the Opposition announced today would just mean further delay and the consequence of further delay would be that Australia would have no operational submarines towards the end of the next decade, when the Collins class submarines go out of service.

Let me point out more of the record of members opposite when it comes to defence procurement. In six years, not a single naval order was placed by Labor with an Australian shipyard. Not one single naval order was placed by Labor with an Australian shipyard, but three orders went overseas.

Mr Champion interjecting—

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