Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. The AUKUS submarine deal appears to be creating division within government ranks. The Labor member for Fremantle is reported to have said:

While I support the work of the government, I'm not completely convinced that nuclear-propelled submarines are the only or best answer to our strategic needs.

The Labor member for Higgins, after questioning the decision to buy submarines in the Labor Party room, later issued a statement saying:

I fully support the government's announced Aukus plan.

Fully support, huh! This deal reportedly doesn't deliver a submarine to Australia for 10 years—I tell you, from where I'm standing, that's going to be on a good day. What's more, this government doesn't start building submarines in Australia for two decades. Can the minister explain to Australia how we can trust the government on this purchase when some of its own backbenchers do not?