Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer the minister to the Senate report into the Future Submarine project tabled yesterday. The report includes evidence from Dr John White, an expert chosen by the government to review the Air Warfare Destroyer project. He said:

There is still sufficient time available, with adequate contingency, for the competitive [project definition study] to be carried out and to build the Future Submarines in Australia.

Will the government listen to this expert advice and conduct a competitive tender process, including a project definition study for the Future Submarine project?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As always, the government will listen and take into account all of the competing views and interests. At the end of the day, we will make a decision which is in the national interest. And so as my colleague Senator Johnston and the government weigh up all of the competing requests and interests in relation to this important project, we will seek to ensure (1) that our national security is protected to the highest level possible and (2) we will seek to ensure that Australian taxpayers get best value for money. And let us not forget that every single dollar that is spent on this project will need to be taken out of the pockets of our fellow Australians before we can spend this money. So let us make no mistake: we have a huge duty to the Australian taxpayer to ensure value for money.

Part and parcel of that whole arrangement will be to seek to maximise what employment opportunities might arise in relation to this project. The one thing we do know is that the vast majority of jobs in fact are in the after purchase and in the maintenance throughout the lifetime of the particular project.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Pause the clock!

Opposition senators interjecting—

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We clean the toilets!

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, isn't it a terrible reflection that Senator Cameron should interject that the only maintenance work would be cleaning the toilets. What a disgraceful interjection. How he plays down the work of our defence personnel, who maintain these vessels from a weapons point of view, from a mechanical point of view— (Time expired)

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer the minister to further evidence in the Senate report by retired Commodore Paul Greenfield, who said:

There does not have to be a capability gap if we get on with it now.

Minister, why won't the government listen to the experts and get on with a competitive tender process, including a project definition study, immediately?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, what absolute audacity from an opposition senator to raise the prospect of 'if we get on with it now'. What happened during the six years of the previous Australian Labor Party government? Absolutely nothing; they never got on with anything, other than raising the debt! So for Senator Dastyari to seek to come into this place and assert that we as a government should 'get on with it'—the simple fact is, as Senator Johnston said in an earlier question time, we were left with a blank sheet of paper in relation to this project. We had to start from scratch. And in starting from scratch in the past 12 months, we have sought to do everything we possibly can to ensure that our nation's defences are protected and that we get best value for money. What an audacity to say 'get on with it'. We actually are— (Time expired)

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Given that the expert evidence provided to the Senate committee stated that there are no strategic, no capabilities and no economic impediments to building our new submarine fleet in Australia, Minister, why aren't you prepared to stand up today and recommit to your earlier promise to build Australia's 12 new submarines here in Australia?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have always wondered why the honourable senator reminds me of a certain actor, Rowan Atkinson. You know why? He is at his best when his mouth is shut.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock. I think I can deal with this Senator Moore. Minister, you were reflecting improperly on the member. I would suggest that you consider withdrawing that remark.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, allow me to withdraw but it would be exceptionally difficult for anybody, especially on the other side, to say that Senator Dastyari is at his best when he has got his mouth open. But, nevertheless, Mr President, I indicate to the senator that this is a government concerned—

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order going to relevance: I asked Colonel Klink on the other side moments earlier a very specific question about the future of the Australian submarine project. I would like the colonel to give me an answer.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind senators to refer to senators by their correct title. Minister, you have 27 seconds left to complete your answer.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are you going to allow that?

Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order: Senator Dastyari used most unparliamentary language, and you quite rightly pointed out to the Senate that you should refer to senators in the appropriate manner. I would now ask you to invite Senator Dastyari to withdraw his comments and reflections on Senator Abetz.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Bernardi, and I will take the advice from Senator Bernardi, Senator Dastyari, on the same matter as Senator Abetz.

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw the comments.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's about time you took advice from Senator Bernardi!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, I will not be taking advice from you. Order! I know it is the second-last day for this week. Minister, you have 27 seconds

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, the government is absolutely concerned to get this project right. We were left with a blank sheet of paper when we came into government in September last year. We will seek to do everything we possibly can to deliver the best possible project for the Australian taxpayer and for Australia's defence needs, and they are the promises we will keep.