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

Again, I would advise the senator that the government is involved in a sensitive commercial negotiation process, and I am not going to ventilate on the Senate floor the ins and outs of the sensitive commercial negotiation process. I am not going to ventilate it in the media. I am not going to ventilate it in any inappropriate way.

As I have said, we have taken from all of the proponents—but most particularly, as we are discussing, DCNS—Australian industry involvement plans, which were a key part of the competitive evaluation process for all of the submitters. That and working to ensure that the details of extensive engagement with Australian industry are part of our work with the French, and working with potential key suppliers, which will form the basis of Australian sovereign sustainment capability, are a very important part of the work that we are doing. DCNS themselves have begun a comprehensive process to engage with local Australian industry from all over the country to provide details of how they can join— (Time expired)