Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Will the minister advise how the Turnbull government's announcement on naval shipbuilding will provide certainty and security for shipbuilding workers, particularly in my home state, the great state of Western Australia?

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

Senator Back interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Carr and Senator Back.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Isn't it fabulous that the government has people like Senator Reynolds and Senator Fawcett, with long-term expertise and interest in defence issues, to pursue these matters in the chamber. As I said a little earlier, the Turnbull government's continuous build strategy will secure a long-term naval shipbuilding industry in Australia in Adelaide and in Western Australia. The government has announced today that up to 10 of the 12 offshore patrol vessels which will replace the Armidale Class Patrol Boats will be constructed in Henderson in Western Australia, after a start-up, as I said, in South Australia, securing around 400 long-term jobs in Western Australia in the shipbuilding industry. Over the long term, that will support the commencement of a continuous build of these sorts of naval vessels at Henderson.

The government has also announced that Austal Ships in Henderson in Western Australia is the preferred tenderer to design and construct up to 21 steel-hulled Pacific Patrol Boats. Subject to those contract negotiations being finalised, this decision will secure over 100 naval shipbuilding jobs at Austal Ships, ensuring that those skills and experience are retained in Western Australia. Those decisions show that the government is actually getting on with the job of ensuring that the Australian naval shipbuilding industry is strong, is sustainable, and will be consistent, so that we avoid that boom-bust cycle that we have experienced in the past. Our approach, which is about securing jobs and investment while providing the navy with the capability it needs, is in stark contrast to those opposite, who sat on their hands for six years and did nothing to secure the jobs of shipbuilding workers in Western Australia—or anywhere else in our nation, for that matter. Nowhere in our nation did they place one single contract to build ships in Australia. Not one! Not once!

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Will the minister inform the Senate of further benefits of the Turnbull government's announcements today in helping to drive the transition of our economy?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a very important supplementary question in terms of transitioning the economy, and aspects of that transition that the Prime Minister and the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science have spoken about for some time now. These announcements today secure a naval shipbuilding industry and jobs for skilled shipbuilding workers for years and years to come. This decision to commence the build of major naval warships in Adelaide and of these naval vessels in Henderson in Western Australia is a game changer for industry and workers. But it will require a truly national effort, a national enterprise, to deliver these ambitious programs. The key to that will be innovation, and cutting-edge technology and skills from the companies and the people that we need to deliver these ambitious plans. There are going to be jobs right across the nation through the supply chains and support industries. The potential for spillover into other industries is truly exciting and enormous. I cannot believe that those opposite cannot be positive about this for one moment. (Time expired)

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Will the minister also advise the Senate how the Pacific Patrol Boat Program will secure shipbuilding jobs in Western Australia and promote Australia's broader regional security?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

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

On my left, order!

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What did you do? Nothing, Kim.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Tell us about what happens on the eastern seaboard.

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

Senator Carr.

Senator Back interjecting—

And Senator Back.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is the best question of the day. I can advise that, with the announcement that Austal ships is the preferred tenderer to design and build up to 21 replacement steel hulled Pacific patrol boats beginning in 2017, the current Pacific Patrol Boat Program—and its follow-on, the Pacific Maritime Security Program—is actually the centrepiece of Defence's engagement in the South Pacific. In fact, under the PPBP Australia had gifted 22 patrol boats to 12 Pacific Island countries between 1987 and 1997. That current fleet, which has worked hard in those specific nations, will begin to reach its end of service life from 2018, and so it will be replaced with the Austal built vessels under the Pacific Maritime Security Program. Australia continues to provide ongoing maintenance, logistical support and training for the Pacific patrol boat crews, and we provide ongoing in-country advisory support through a network of 24 RAN maritime surveillance advisers and technical advisers, and these decisions will make the major difference in Australia's naval shipbuilding industry. (Time expired)