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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the government join with Labor and commit to building, maintaining and sustaining our next fleet of submarines in Australia? After all, that was your election promise.

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

This government has put in place a competitive evaluation process which will ensure that a decision is made about the future submarine fleet by the end of the year. We certainly want to maximise the work in Adelaide. We are absolutely confident that, because there will be more submarines, there will be more jobs in Adelaide—at least 500 more jobs in Adelaide on a long-term basis. But the important thing is that we have the best possible submarines at the best possible price, as well as that we maximise the work here in Australia.

Mr Conroy interjecting—

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

The member for Charlton will desist!

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

I should point out that members opposite had six years in which to make a decision about the future submarines. What they did was they sat on their hands for six long years. The process that the Leader of the Opposition announced today would just mean further delay and the consequence of further delay would be that Australia would have no operational submarines towards the end of the next decade, when the Collins class submarines go out of service.

Let me point out more of the record of members opposite when it comes to defence procurement. In six years, not a single naval order was placed by Labor with an Australian shipyard. Not one single naval order was placed by Labor with an Australian shipyard, but three orders went overseas.

Mr Champion interjecting—

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

The member for Wakefield will desist!

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

They also cut $16 billion from defence and they reduced defence spending to the lowest level since 1938, despite the difficult and challenging international environment in which Australia operates.

I say this: the defence of Australia is in good hands with this government. We will ensure that the next generation of submarines are built and we will ensure that there are more jobs in South Australia.