Rex Patrick (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. The 2009 Defence white paper foreshadowed increased tension in the region, and announced the need to increase our submarine force from six submarines to 12. The RAN was supposed to have 12 new submarines by 2039. Now that the smoke has dissipated, now that the mirrors have been removed, it is clear that, under the new plan, in 2039 we will instead have only five ageing Collins class submarines. In October last year, the then DFAT secretary, Her Excellency Frances Adamson, advised that the China-Taiwan situation concerned her more than at any time in the last 3½ decades of her career. Why has the government left us so vulnerable, with so few submarines, under these circumstances?

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

I thank Senator Patrick for his question. In acknowledging the number of points that the senator made I would note, firstly, that the government has clearly stated that the fact is Australia's strategic environment has deteriorated in ways that weren't anticipated even five years ago. We know that the Indo-Pacific is now the global epicentre of strategic competition, and that is why the AUKUS agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States is so important and so necessary.

In terms of capability itself, we as a government are delivering on our commitment to deliver to our service women and men the equipment they need to keep us safe. I can confirm in that context that defence spending under this government will rise above two per cent of GDP in the coming financial year. There are a number of additional capabilities in which we are investing, along with those already planned, that will address the potential security challenges in coming decades. We are extending the life of all six of our Collins class submarines. All six submarines will undergo life-of-type extension within the budget of $4.3 billion to $6.4 billion, extending the life of each submarine by 10 years.

We're also investing in advanced long-range strike capabilities including Tomahawk cruise missiles, long-range anti-ship missiles and joint air-to-surface standoff missiles. The Tomahawk cruise missiles that will be fielded on our Hobart class destroyers are going to enable our maritime assets to strike land targets at greater distance and with better precision. The long-range anti-ship missiles for our F/A-18 super hornets can strike land and maritime targets—the JASSMs for our F/A-18F super hornets and in our future F35s as well. We're enhancing our capabilities in offensive cyber, in hypersonic systems, in autonomous systems, in space capabilities. We are confident, as I said at the beginning of your question, that these will address the potential security challenges in the coming decades as we move to the new submarine acquisitions.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Patrick, a supplementary question?

Rex Patrick (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So, it's great attention, fewer submarines. Last week Vice-Admiral Noonan conceded that, by 2040, further extending the life of the Collins boats will leave them at 'far greater risk of detection'. Will the government purchase off-the-shelf submarines to be built in Adelaide to serve as the Navy's Super Hornet interim solution to the F-35?

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

That's a fascinating metaphor: an underwater Super Hornet F-35. Thank you, Senator Patrick, for your question. I understand the point that you are raising, but, with your experience, I would have thought you would appreciate how inefficient it might be for the Royal Australian Navy to try to operate three different classes of submarine simultaneously that require different basing, different crewing and different sustainment.

The Collins class submarine life-of-type extension remains an essential element of the government's plan to maintain a potent and agile submarine capability for Australia. It has a core work package that includes updates and upgrades to diesel engines, main motor and power conversion equipment. Both Defence and industry are continuing to progress Collins class submarine life-of-type extension work on schedule to support the first boat that will need an extension—that is HMAS Farncomb, as you know—commencing in mid-2026. The ASC will lead the life-of-type extension desired and implementation activities— (Time expired)

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Patrick, a second supplementary question?

Rex Patrick (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, we have a submarine construction workforce in disarray after the cancellation of the Attack submarine program. The nuclear submarine built in Adelaide for delivery in 2040, by simple calculation, will commence construction in the mid-2030s. We don't have a workforce valley of death, rather we have a Grand Canyon. What will the government be doing to fill this Grand Canyon?

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

I absolutely disagree with the proposition that Senator Patrick put in relation to that. We are absolutely committed to ensuring that critical skills are retained in the shipbuilding sector in Australia. In fact, our commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding will support at least 15,000 Australian jobs by the end of the decade, and over 5,000 of those will be in South Australia.

We know that the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia is one of two principal shipyards. We know Osborne is hosting the construction of nine Hunter class frigates, plus major upgrades to the Navy's three AWDs and full-cycle docking of six Collins class submarines.

The Morrison government have, frankly, delivered in the budget on our commitment to provide our service women and men with the vital equipment they need to keep us safe. We are committed to finding a role for every skilled shipbuilding worker impacted by the Attack class decision. We'll partner with ASC to manage and implement the new sovereign shipbuilding talent pool as well, which will redeploy the existing shipbuilding workforce throughout our current and new shipbuilding programs. (Time expired)