Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, at the outset, as an electoral neighbour and colleague, I congratulate you on your elevation to the Speakership of this House. I thank the member for Hindmarsh for his question. Indeed, it was a delight to be with him in his electorate of Hindmarsh and to see the strong representation that he makes on behalf of the constituents of Hindmarsh.

As the member indicated in his question, last week the government made an historic announcement. That announcement, for the first time since the Federation of the Commonwealth of Australia, was a commitment to have a continuous naval shipbuilding industry in Australia. That is good news for Defence, industry and workers. It is good news for Defence, as the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, said, as it provides certainty for planning not just within Navy but within the Australian defence forces. It is good news for industry. As the head of Austal shipping, Andrew Bellamy, said, this marks a transformative change for naval shipbuilding in Australia. Of course, it is good news for workers, including those in the honourable member's electorate of Hindmarsh. Indeed, the South Australian Premier, Mr Weatherill, said it creates jobs that workers in South Australia and around the nation want. So it is good news for our Defence, industry and workers.

Importantly, this reverses Labor's approach. The reality is that the Labor Party in government had abandoned a naval shipbuilding industry in Australia. They had abandoned it.

Opposition members: That's rubbish!

The honourable members opposite interject, 'That's rubbish.' Then why didn't they order one single naval vessel in six years in office from an Australian shipyard?

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