Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Xenophon for some brief notice of the fact that he was going to raise this issue this afternoon. This matter was also discussed at estimates the week before last, as Senator Xenophon will recall. I note the order of the Senate of 17 November 2014. Senator Johnston provided advice to the Clerk of the Senate in November 2014, and I also provided further advice on this matter to Senator Xenophon I think earlier this month, if I recall correctly, and it was then followed up at estimates.

The analysis and the modelling report to which Senator Xenophon refers will form part of a final report to government that is being developed by the Department of Defence. The final report will follow the competitive evaluation process for the Future Submarine program that is now underway. These documents have been brought into existence by the Department of Defence for the purpose of the cabinet's consideration of the Future Submarine, and as such the government stands by its decision not to release those documents.