Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence Materiel. Will the minister advise the House how the government's continuous naval shipbuilding plan, built upon today, will create jobs and growth in Western Australia, South Australia and North Queensland?

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Canning for his commitment to our armed forces and to the nation's security.

Today, the Turnbull government has secured a sustainable, long-term Australian shipbuilding industry and Australian jobs. Today, the government announced 12 offshore patrol vessels to be built in South Australia and Western Australia; 21 Pacific patrol boats built in Western Australia; and nine future frigates built in Adelaide. Today, the Turnbull government has committed to $40 billion worth of investment in Australia's Navy and in our shipbuilding industry. It is a commitment that will deliver more than 2½ thousand jobs—more than 2½ thousand jobs! It will generate thousands of additional jobs with local suppliers.

This government is continuing to deliver for local defence businesses. It started with the Defence white paper, which includes a $1.6 billion investment in Australia's defence industry. Funding includes: $230 million for the Centre for Defence Industry Capability, $730 million for research into emerging technologies and $640 million for a new Defence Innovation Hub.

Defence industry employs 25,000 Australians. There are 3,000 Australian small businesses in the defence industry. Many of these businesses will benefit additionally from today's announcement. It will mean an investment of $500 million and over 130 jobs through the Pacific patrol boats. It will mean an investment of $3 billion and over 400 jobs in Adelaide and Henderson through the offshore patrol vessels. It will mean an investment of $35 billion and over 2,000 jobs in Adelaide through the future frigates build.

Today, the Prime Minister has done something that the Labor Party could not do in six years—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In six years you could not do it!

We have commissioned a ship that will be built in Australia. Right now on the shipbuilding scorecard—

Mr Husic interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Chifley is warned.

Mr Husic interjecting—

The member for Chifley has been warned.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Listen to this. I am trying to get Buffoon over here to listen. The scorecard reads 'Coalition 42, Labor Party 0'. This is good for Australian shipbuilding, it is good for jobs and it is fantastic for Australia's national security.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs used an unparliamentary term. I have just waited till the end of his answer to ask him to withdraw.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.