Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks Senator Tyrrell. As you would have heard in my answer to the previous question, there can be no doubting Defence's commitment to this project going ahead, and a very large amount of work has been put in place to ensure that it can go ahead. I'm certainly not aware from the briefing material I have received that Defence has any intention of walking away from this project. As I indicated in my previous answer, Defence remains fully committed to this project going ahead.

Having said that, unfortunately, the land title issues that have bogged down this process are a matter for the Tasmanian government and the university to resolve. They're not entirely within Defence's remit to sort them out and to get this project happening, but Defence is working closely and will continue to work closely with those partners to ensure that the project goes ahead.