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

This is the best question of the day. I can advise that, with the announcement that Austal ships is the preferred tenderer to design and build up to 21 replacement steel hulled Pacific patrol boats beginning in 2017, the current Pacific Patrol Boat Program—and its follow-on, the Pacific Maritime Security Program—is actually the centrepiece of Defence's engagement in the South Pacific. In fact, under the PPBP Australia had gifted 22 patrol boats to 12 Pacific Island countries between 1987 and 1997. That current fleet, which has worked hard in those specific nations, will begin to reach its end of service life from 2018, and so it will be replaced with the Austal built vessels under the Pacific Maritime Security Program. Australia continues to provide ongoing maintenance, logistical support and training for the Pacific patrol boat crews, and we provide ongoing in-country advisory support through a network of 24 RAN maritime surveillance advisers and technical advisers, and these decisions will make the major difference in Australia's naval shipbuilding industry. (Time expired)