John Madigan (Victoria, Democratic Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. The Defence Department's Future Submarine Industry Skills Plan states:

As it currently stands, the scheme of shipbuilding projects in the Defence Capability Plan creates gaps for the Australian shipbuilding industry with a decline in project activity that has already commenced … These peaks and troughs further deny industry the serious opportunity to invest, develop skills and improve performance over a longer period.

What assurance can the minister provide to the Australian people that he will not allow a gap to occur in the Australian shipbuilding industry again and that maintaining and growing current capacity is a national security priority?