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

My question is for the Minister for Defence, Senator Johnston. Can the minister confirm that draft talking points, draft media releases or any other draft supporting documents have been prepared in his office, his department or the Prime Minister's office to announce Australia's future submarines will be built by Japan?

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I cannot confirm that, because, to the best of my knowledge, no such documents exist.

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

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister confirm again that no draft talking points, draft media releases or drafts of any other supporting documents have been prepared in his office, his department or the PM's office to announce that the submarine construction partner has been selected for Australia's Future Submarine program? Can the minister confirm that the national security committee of cabinet has made no decision on Australia's Future Submarine project?

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For a start, I do not discuss national security deliberations, particularly with you. Secondly, I have not seen the documents to which you refer.

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

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I refer the minister to the Standards of ministerial ethics:

Ministers are expected to be honest in the conduct of public office and take all reasonable steps to ensure that they do not mislead the public or the Parliament.

I again ask: have any materials been drafted to announce that Australia's new submarines will be built by Japan?

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not think I can recall that this chamber has come to such a low ebb that that senator would ask that question.