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

(—) (): I note the observations that Senator Patrick has made, but I would also note that this government's commitment to shipbuilding in South Australia is, frankly, unparalleled, and that includes the sort of work that Senator Patrick is referring to. Our commitment is to building up to 23 vessels at Osborne, which totals over $120 billion out to the 2050s. It sees the offshore patrol vessels being built at Osborne by Luerssen Australia, which is directly employing up to 400 workers, and that includes some transitions from the Air Warfare Destroyer Program that we successfully reformed and delivered. It includes the work of BAE Systems Maritime Australia, which is ramping up its production efforts with prototyping for the Hunter class frigates. It includes the transformation of the Osborne Naval Shipyard itself into the national hub for advanced manufacturing of the most complex vessels for the Royal Australian Navy— (Time expired)