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

Senator Carr is, unsurprisingly, completely incorrect. We are absolutely committed to maximising the involvement of Australian industry in the Future Submarine Program, and any suggestion to the contrary is completely wrong.

Let me detail some of the engagement between DCNS and Lockheed Martin Australia with Australian industry, who completed their first submarine industry day in Adelaide in November last year. Over 450 companies, R&D institutions and educational organisations attended the day. The second industry day took place in Sydney in February of this year. Over 270 companies, R&D institutions and educational organisations attended the day. I read this morning that the third day was held in Melbourne this week, again with hundreds of people engaged and involved. Further submarine industry days will be held throughout Australia in 2017, with the next day scheduled in Brisbane in May. The suggestions that Senator Carr made are totally unfounded. We are absolutely committed to maximising Australian industry involvement in the development of future submarines— (Time expired)