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

I thank Senator Carr for his question. As part of the work that is being done by the future submarine office, DCNS and Defence have already engaged with Australian steel companies BlueScope and Bisalloy. Both companies supplied the steel used to build the Collins-class submarines, as many people may recall. The engagement has involved initial visits to the premises of both companies in Wollongong, as Senator Fierravanti-Wells would be very familiar with, on 6 and 7 February to look at the current steel productions processes used by BlueScope and Bisalloy. Further work over the next six months will include the clarification of technical specifications and our qualification requirements for the pressure hull steel, which will provide BlueScope and Bisalloy with the information they need for our steel production needs.

Let me be very clear: any suggestion that the government is not committed to using Australian steel on the future submarines is plain wrong. We are working very closely with Australian steel companies, as I have just demonstrated. Of course, it is no wonder those opposite are unable to understand that. They come to this discussion with a zero record: zero ships over six years, zero submarines over six years, zero Australian jobs in shipbuilding over six years and zero Australian shipbuilding industry. It is no wonder they do not understand.