Nick Champion (Wakefield, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The minister would be aware of the various contortions in shipbuilding policy that this government has held. When the previous Prime Minister was around they were going to build submarines in Japan and of course we had a defence minister who said that ASC could not build a canoe. They have down a reverse double backflip and are now claiming to be utterly committed to shipbuilding in Australia and naval shipbuilding in South Australia.

I have a number of questions about the ASC reform implementation—in particular, the separation of ASC into three companies based around shipbuilding, submarine maintenance and support and infrastructure. I would like to know who has been consulted as part of the review; what the terms of reference of it were; whether any consideration was given to the possible privatisation of ASC; whether the government has received any advice regarding the privatisation of ASC either in whole or in part; and whether the government has been approached by any organisations or private sector entities, businesses, sections of industry or others—middlemen or whoever else—interested in purchasing any part of ASC. Could the minister also advise how long their commitment not to privatise ASC is good for? Is this a time based thing? Is it good for this election or is it a standing bit of government policy? I would be most interested to hear the minister's views on the contortions that are this government's shipbuilding policy.

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