Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

As always, the government will listen and take into account all of the competing views and interests. At the end of the day, we will make a decision which is in the national interest. And so as my colleague Senator Johnston and the government weigh up all of the competing requests and interests in relation to this important project, we will seek to ensure (1) that our national security is protected to the highest level possible and (2) we will seek to ensure that Australian taxpayers get best value for money. And let us not forget that every single dollar that is spent on this project will need to be taken out of the pockets of our fellow Australians before we can spend this money. So let us make no mistake: we have a huge duty to the Australian taxpayer to ensure value for money.

Part and parcel of that whole arrangement will be to seek to maximise what employment opportunities might arise in relation to this project. The one thing we do know is that the vast majority of jobs in fact are in the after purchase and in the maintenance throughout the lifetime of the particular project.