David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Evans. Minister, after months of denial, the worst-kept secret in Defence was revealed when the Singapore base shipyard ST Marine was contracted to convert the Royal Australian Navy tanker HMAS Success to a double-hulled vessel. How can a Labor government, once the champion of Australian workers, tick off on this project when it is very clear that ST Marine is not required to adhere to Australian standards of occupational health and safety and entitlements for workers, as are Australian firms who employ Australian workers at award wages and conditions and who are more than capable and ready to do the job?