George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, the lead times for major infrastructure projects and major shipbuilding contracts are longer than two years. The fact is that, when the Labor Party was in office for six years, not one Australian warship was commenced at an Australian shipyard—not one.

When the Labor Party was in power for six years, not one thing was done to progress the Future Submarine program. In fact, the only ship acquisition for which the former Labor government was responsible was the purchase from the Royal Navy of a second-hand warship, the Choules. So do not come into this chamber—you, of all people, Senator Kim Carr, who was minister for industry at various times during that unlamented Labor government—and complain that a commercial decision has now been made by BAE as a result of being left high and dry for six years on your watch.