Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Cormann, representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Victoria has a brilliant track record of military vehicle engineering and manufacturing. The Bushmaster, used so extensively in the Afghanistan war, is a classic example. That's why Victoria should be the obvious choice to get the Defence department contracts for the Land 400, to be built by BAE Systems at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne. It's one of the largest R&D clusters in the world, with access to leading universities and testing and evaluation facilities, as well as the Defence Science and Technology Group. Will the minister confirm that the tender competition is now a fight—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order! Pause the clock. I note that there is some cross-chamber state based interjecting. Can we please hear Senator Hinch's question in silence.

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Will the minister confirm that the tender competition is now a fight between BAE and Victoria and a German company in Queensland?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You've got to give Senator Hinch points for trying. What I can confirm is that there is a tender process underway and the tender process will continue to be conducted with the utmost integrity. The Commonwealth will conduct this important defence procurement based on getting the right capability at the right price. These are obviously all matters that are now appropriately considered by the appropriate experts. When the government is in the position to make a final judgement, relevant announcements will be made. These are not political decisions. These are decisions entirely on merit, based on securing the right defence capability at the right price.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hinch, a supplementary question.

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The senator mentioned 'merit'. Can the Minister assure the Senate that the Land 400 contract will be awarded purely on merit and not under some pork-barrelling deal to boost the government's dwindling base in Queensland, as shown in last year's state election?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is bordering on an inappropriate line of questioning, I would suggest. What I can confirm is what I said in my initial answer, and that is that the government will make the decision in relation to this procurement based on procuring the right capability at the right price. There is a tender process currently underway, which will continue to be conducted with the utmost integrity and be exclusively focused on what is in Australia's national interest.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hinch, do you have a final supplementary question?

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the interests of streamlining question time, I forfeit the superfluous supplementary question.