David Feeney (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Justice) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence. Given the minister's refusal to confirm whether the Prime Minister has already made a captain's pick on submarines, does he agree with one of his strongest supporters, Senator Sinodinos, who told Sky News yesterday:

It is a matter that needs to be cleared up. When is the government going to come clean on what it has promised Japan on the subject of submarines?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

I call the honourable the Prime Minister.

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

There will be silence for the answer, and that includes the member for Gorton.

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

It really does come ill from members opposite to engage in this constant denigration of Japan and the Japanese, it really does. What is wrong with defence cooperation with Japan, which has been a friend of and partner of Australia for the last 50 years?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To be relevant, the Prime Minister needs to refer to the election promise he made.

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

The Prime Minister is being relevant. There is no point of order. Take your seat. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

There is absolutely no doubt that I have raised the subject of submarine cooperation with the Japanese Prime Minister. It would be irresponsible of me not to raise the subject of defence and submarine cooperation with the Japanese Prime Minister, given that this country risks a serious submarine capability gap because members opposite sat on their hands for six years. This is yet another Labor mess that this government is having to fix up just like we have had to fix up the air warfare destroyer mess, which is two years behind schedule and $300 million dollars over budget. Absolutely, I have raised with the Prime Minister of Japan the subject of submarine cooperation as I should. Because my duty is to ensure that Australia has the best possible submarines for the best possible price when we need them.

I have not just raised this with the Prime Minister of Japan. I have equally raised this with President Hollande of France and I have equally raised this with Chancellor Merkel of Germany. We are exploring submarine cooperation with the countries that have the expertise to give us the submarines that we need. We are doing absolutely what a good government should because what we will never do is put the defence—

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

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

The member for Gorton!

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

of Australia at risk. That is what we will never do. Members opposite put the defence of our country at risk by promising submarines built in Australia. They promised them back in 2007, and for six years they sat on their hands. The Leader of the Opposition was too busy backstabbing two prime ministers to get on with the job of defending our nation.