Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is interesting to listen to the contribution from the coalition time and time again where they seem to be trying to rewrite history. The Albanese government has worked through a number of stages now since coming into office trying to not just reform but enhance our defence capability for the future. The government has worked very hard to ensure that through the DSR and now that combat fleet review, which, I must say, was only received on 29 September. It is very appropriate for the government to give its recommendation due consideration, as you would expect of any government of the day.

The Deputy Prime Minister has said on numerous occasions now that the government will respond formally in the early part of next year. The government has committed to continuous naval shipbuilding as part of its response to the Defence Strategic Review. This means that companies and workers at Osborne and Henderson should have confidence that we will continue building ships at those shipyards for many decades to come. Not just Osborne and Henderson but the whole supply chain will benefit from these ongoing projects. I know in my home state of Victoria there are a number of companies that feed into these particular shipbuilding projects.

Getting the optimal surface combat fleet for our nation is critical not just for our national security but also for our industrial base. We will take the time that is needed just to make sure that we get it right, because we don't want a repeat of history. The coalition likes to forget that the Turnbull government did go down the path of acquiring those diesel submarines, and then the Morrison government decided to go with nuclear subs at much cost. The former coalition government mismanaged this acquisition at every step of the process, including that of the Hunter class frigate legacy. The coalition told the Australian public that these frigates would commence construction back in 2020 and cost $30 billion. We found out that both of those claims have proven to be false. The truth of the matter is that the Hunter class frigates are running about four years late and will cost billions more than the former coalition initially claimed. This is yet another example of where the Albanese government has had to come in and deal with the consequences of the coalition's disastrous decade in defence.

Another point from question time that I wanted to touch on was about the government's excellent trade record and its response to the failures of the previous government, particularly in stabilising the relationship with our largest trade partner, China.