Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence. I refer to the motion which has just passed the South Australian House of Assembly unanimously. It condemns the Minister for Defence for his remarks, reaffirms the parliament's support for the ASC workers and all other South Australians employed in the defence industry, and demands that government uphold its election commitment. Noting that this motion was supported by the South Australian Liberal leader and every one of the minister's state Liberal colleagues, how can the minister maintain he is up to the job?

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

My responsibility is to the Commonwealth of Australia and to the taxpayers of the Commonwealth. I know that will come as somewhat of a surprise to somebody who is bound and gagged by the union movement in everything she does. May I say: I can understand the motion but I have other responsibilities.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer again to the motion supported by the South Australian Liberal leader, Mr Marshall, which demands that the Abbott government uphold its election commitment to build 12 submarines in Adelaide. Will the minister reaffirm the pre-election commitment he made with Mr Marshall?

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

The good senator simply does not want to acknowledge the truth of what I said in Adelaide. I said, 'We will support the government unless it is fantasy.' She knows that, and she knows that everything her government did was largely fantasy.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Now that the minister has been condemned by the South Australian parliament, censured by the Senate, abandoned by his colleagues, insulted by his junior minister and publicly repudiated by the Prime Minister, isn't it time for him to take the only honourable course of action and resign?

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

Definitely not.