Mark Butler (Port Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question today is to the Prime Minister. On 8 May last year, the now Minister for Defence promised:

The coalition today is committed to building 12 new submarines here in Adelaide.

Given that he has broken this $20 billion promise—and that we have a defence minister that nobody else will defend—will the Prime Minister now sack the Minister for Defence?

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

The commitment that I made before the election was that the Australian work on the future submarines would centre on the South Australian shipyards. That was the commitment that I made and that is a commitment that the government will keep.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If more members on the opposition benches wish to leave, they will keep up the noise.

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

What we want is the best possible submarine fleet. We want the best possible submarine fleet at a fair price. That is what we want. We want the most effective submarines at the best possible price, and that is exactly what this government will get. We will get the best possible submarines at the best possible price.

Ms Ryan interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Lalor will desist.

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

The Leader of the Opposition says that we can have submarines, as long as they have got nothing to do with Japan. That is because of what happened in World War II. Really and truly, what an extraordinary piece of xenophobia from the Leader of the Opposition. You know what the opposition's remarks demonstrate? You cannot trust the nation's defences in his hands, if that is his attitude to the future submarine fleet of our country.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order. The Prime Minister has totally fabricated those remarks that he has attributed to me.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition knows that he may not enter into debate at question time. He is totally out of order. If it happens again, he will be asked to leave. Prime Minister, have you completed your answer?

Opposition members: He sat down!

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

I am continuing my answer. The Leader of the Opposition went to the ASC and he said that the last thing Australia should ever have is a Japanese submarine. That is what he said. He said, 'Because remember World War II.' That is exactly what he said. He was kind of like a reverse John Cleese. That is what he was: 'Remember the war?'

Mr Shorten interjecting—

He says, 'Show us your transcript.' That is the transcript that he would not put out. He is such a big man before the union officials.

Government members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Silence on my right.

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

He goes to the shipyards, puts his union leaders cap back on again, takes off his alternative Prime Minister cap and he plays the xenophobe card. That is what he does. He puts at risk our nation's defences because he plays the xenophobe card. Shame, shame on this Leader of the Opposition. If he wants to prove—

Mr Shorten interjecting—

He says, 'Shame on your dishonesty.' That is great. Be an honest Leader of the Opposition for once and show us your transcript.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Be an honest Prime Minister.

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

Put out the transcript that you are trying to hide. That is what you should do.