House debates
Wednesday, 11 February 2015
Questions without Notice
Defence Procurement
2:32 pm
Mark Butler (Port Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
My question is to the Prime Minister. Liberal senator Sean Edwards said, in relation to the Future Submarine project:
I'm very pleased with the decision of the Prime Minister … it now commits the government to a full and open tender …
Does the Prime Minister agree with the expletive-filled assessment from his junior infrastructure minister—reported in today's West Australianthat Senator Edwards was 'lying and deliberately misrepresenting the PM's position'?
Nick Champion (Wakefield, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Trouble in paradise!
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Unless the member for Wakefield is anxious to go to paradise, he will desist.
Opposition members interjecting—
We will have some silence now, thank you.
Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
There are some images that can't be unseen!
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
We will have some silence. The Prime Minister will resume his seat.
Opposition members interjecting—
It does sound like paradise lost. I call the honourable Prime Minister.
2:33 pm
Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I am sure the member is interested in all the defence work that is being done in South Australia. There is $1 billion worth of defence procurement and sustainment work being undertaken in South Australia.
Mr Butler interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The member has asked his question and will desist.
Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
That includes 44 separate acquisition projects in South Australia, such as the work on the Air Warfare Destroyer Program, the support and upgrade of the Royal Australian Air Force's P3 Orion aircraft fleet—
Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.
Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Don't you want the answer?
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.
Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Direct relevance, Madam Speaker. It is a long way away.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The Prime Minister has the call and will pay attention to the question.
Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I was asked about defence in South Australia, and that is exactly what I am talking about. The government will spend $34 million in South Australia on the Future Submarine program, building our competencies and knowledge base in cooperation with industry. South Australia is also home to 58 separate sustainment programs, including the sustainment of the Collins class submarine and the Jindalee over-the-horizon radar network. So there is $1 billion worth of defence procurement going on in South Australia right now and, on that, the member for Mayo and Senator Edwards are absolutely in agreement. They love it. They both love it, as they should. But I tell you what we are not going to do. We will have a competitive overvaluation process, but I tell you what: we will not go to open tender, because only Labor wants to see Australian submarines possibly built in Russia or North Korea.