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

It is absolutely consistent with any observation about providing Australian companies with opportunities to enter the supply chain. We have had dozens of industry days between the naval shipbuilding program, both surface and submarine. We have involved hundreds and hundreds of Australian businesses in that process. Let me just remind the chamber of a number of observations of all the three international shipbuilders who've been invited to tender on the Future Frigates program. BAE Systems Australia said:

If successful on the SEA 5000 program, the Company intends to not only utilise the current South Australian ship building workforce, but would complement this with skills from other sectors and commit to an early careers program to bring in hundreds of apprentices and graduates over the life of the program.

Navantia Australia said:

When we already have an experienced shipbuilding workforce in Adelaide, why would we look anywhere else?

Fincantieri said:

… our proposal will create long-term security for the Adelaide shipbuilding workforce, build a new advanced manufacturing industry nationally …

It is still not good enough for those opposite—still not good enough for them. (Time expired)