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

I have to indicate to Senator Carr that I do not agree with the premise of his question. I do not think it was a 'considerable step' for the Prime Minister to raise the issue in a bilateral meeting with President Hollande. In fact, I think it was an entirely appropriate matter for discussion. The Prime Minister indicated that in relation to the security of matters around the Future Submarine Program—and, quite frankly, for that matter the Collins class submarine program—we should have a 'ferocious commitment' to security. I endorse that—I have repeated it myself—and I completely disagree with Senator Carr.