Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

All right. He wants me to read the actual quote. I will do that. Senator Birmingham said there is no excuse for the minister's:

… denigration of the workforce or of the extensive capabilities that South Australia has

A senior Liberal MP is reported in The Australian as saying the defence minister's comments were:

… some of the most stupid words I have ever heard from a senior minister.

Mr Marshall, the leader of the South Australia Liberal Party, said the comments were deplorable. He said:

They were disgraceful comments about the ASC and he needs to do something to rebuild the confidence of the workforce ... if he can’t then his position is untenable.

If this minister had any common sense or judgement, he would have come into this Senate after question time yesterday and apologised and withdrawn his comments. He insulted a whole company and its workforce. He has inflicted reputational damage not only on the company but on Australia's capability more generally. He has inflicted serious reputational damage on our shipbuilding industry. He has undermined the integrity of the defence procurement process. He has undermined confidence in Australia's defence capability. Who would have thought a defence minister who says he cares about national security would be happy to undermine confidence in Australia's naval capability?