Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I was speaking in support of AUKUS, which I thought had bipartisan support across the chamber. It is in Australia's national interests, and it's in our long-term interests. We have put in place phases. We've already had a visit to Australia by a Virginia class submarine that the defence minister and I went into at the base in Perth. We will have, as well, some Virginia class submarines built in the United States, and then we will also have SSN-AUKUS—the same vessels built in the United Kingdom, in Barrow, which I visited as well, and in South Australia. That isn't just about defence. That's about advanced manufacturing here in Australia. It has a massive spin-off, as well, that we're seeing through education, with many Australians engaging already in the United States and in the UK. This is about Australia's national interest. I'll always stand up for Australia's national interest, and that is why I support this program.

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