David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. With opposition growing in the US Congress to passing any legislation that allows Australia even one Virginia-class nuclear submarine because of an entrenched lack of capability in the US industry to build enough submarines for their use, what is the Albanese government's Plan B for when no subs are approved and the first pillar of AUKUS sinks?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Shoebridge for his question. It's interesting that Senator Hanson-Young or Senator Pocock hasn't asked that question, because, of course, the prospect of Australia building those submarines in South Australia is going to be a wonderful opportunity.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Shoebridge?

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is not about the submarines—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Shoebridge, why are you on your feet?

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's relevance. I ask you to bring the minister—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're rising on a point of order.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Correct.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Then you need to stand and indicate it's a point of order.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister is not being relevant. The question is not about boats that might be built from 2040 in South Australia, which he seems fixated on. It's the boats that you're not going to get out of the United States from 2030, built in the US.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You are now getting into a debating point, Senator Shoebridge. I'll remind Minister Farrell of your question.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I simply don't agree with the fundamental premise of your question, Senator Shoebridge. Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement on a program to increase our defence capabilities in a more dangerous world. Perhaps you haven't noticed, but a small country like Ukraine has just been invaded, illegally and immorally, by—

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, the question at no point referenced the Ukraine but is about congressional approval for Virginia-class submarines being made available to Australia. Could you please direct the minister to the question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister is answering your question. You may not like the answer, but he nevertheless has answered the question. Minister Farrell, please continue.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I say this: we've got a fantastic ambassador in the United States in former prime minister Rudd—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Canavan! And Senator McKenzie!

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and I know that our ambassador in the United States has ensured that AUKUS has strong bipartisan and bicameral support right across congress. During the AUSMIN discussions, Secretary Austin and Secretary Blinken were confident there would continue to be strong bipartisan support for this initiative. So your assumptions— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Shoebridge, your first supplementary?

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, with the US Congress now calling for Australia to pour even more money into US manufacturing and jobs, on top of the $3 billion Australia has already committed to US shipbuilding, is that what Prime Minister Albanese is taking to Washington—billions more Australian dollars for US jobs?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Shoebridge for his first supplementary question. What Prime Minister Albanese will be taking to the United States is goodwill between Australia and our most important military ally, the United States—an arrangement, I might say, which was formed in the darkest days of World War II between John Curtin and President Roosevelt. In the world in which we live, Senator Shoebridge, we need allies, and—

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order on relevance. This isn't a history lesson from Don's childhood. This is about whether the Prime Minister is taking billions more dollars of Australian taxpayers' money to bail out the US shipbuilding industry.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will remind the minister of your questions and I will remind you that you refer to people in this place by their correct titles. Minister Farrell.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Shoebridge, even I am not that old! But I do understand Australian history. I like reading Australian— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Shoebridge, second supplementary?

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister, for that scintillating response. The US Congressional Research Service has also proposed a division-of-labour plan in which Australia never receives a Virginia class submarine. Instead the US would station their nuclear submarines in Australia under their control and we would pay the US for them to use us as a parking lot. Is that Prime Minister Albanese's plan B?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Shoebridge his second supplementary question. No.