Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

The sad fact is that this government has had to rebuild our naval shipbuilding capability following its destruction by those opposite after six years of cuts, failures and indecision. Labor's Australia industry content in naval shipbuilding was—how much was it? A hundred per cent of nothing. In stark contrast, the Morrison government is committed to creating a productive and globally competitive and sustainable Australian defence industry for building ships. Already, work is underway to create jobs for over 15,000 Australian workers. I saw firsthand at the Pacific 29 conference more than 600 industry stands, many of them—hundreds of them—displaying Australian ingenuity and the workforce at its best. Naval shipbuilding truly is an Australian national endeavour, and this government is extraordinarily proud, as I am as the minister, of this endeavour.