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

I am very keen to reinforce the government's commitment to creating a sovereign Australian shipbuilding industry.

This government has indeed brought the OPV project forward to avoid a capability gap and to secure as many Australian shipbuilding jobs as possible, after those opposite, as I have said before in this chamber, did nothing for six years. By selecting an experienced international design partner we're ensuring that technology, intellectual property, business processes and workplace cultures are transferred to Australian shipbuilders and to supply chains so that we can grow a long-term and sustainable sovereign naval shipbuilding industry.

I note that during the competitive tender process there was no Australian design house competing to be part of the design team, as some have asserted. Under Lurssen, the OPVs will be built in Adelaide from 2018 and in Western Australia from 2020, using Australian shipbuilders and maximising the use of Australia's shipbuilding industry. (Time expired)