David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

This morning I took my medicine for an hour. I did say something that I regret. Gee, I do not think I am first cab off the rank—and I am looking straight at Senator Conroy. Let's talk about Defence. It was me who, back in 2009 during Defence estimates, worked out that we were paying around about a billion dollars a year and we did not have any submarines in the water. I then, for the first time ever, got the executive officer of ASC to come to Senate estimates and I asked him: why, with a gross turnover of $750 million, was there only a dividend of $2 million? And what is the problem with the sustainment of submarines? He set out a number of problems.

The comparisons across the world were quite concerning. It was my constant reference in Defence estimates and in the public accounts committee that brought this matter forward. Indeed, may I say, the owner of ASC, the then finance minister—who happens to be sitting just over there—had to be told what the letters ASC actually stood for. And of course, as a result of my constant badgering we had the Coles report. The Coles report is very serious, sober reading. (Time expired)