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

Let me make this very clear: the 12 future submarines for which DCNS is the preferred international design partner will be built in South Australia at the Adelaide shipyards. Of course as anyone with a basic, even rudimentary knowledge of negotiation and normal commercial processes would be aware, these matters will be finalised through that process. In fact I can only imagine what those opposite would try to say if they decided that we had undertaken too many steps in the process—they would say that was inappropriate so close to an election. They cannot have it both ways. The government's commitment is quite clear, the government's announcement is quite clear and the government's announcement is that the first 12 future submarines will be built in South Australia with DCNS as the preferred international design partner. (Time expired)