Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

They could not decide what mattered more, electoral politics or the defence of this nation. That is what they were incapable of deciding.

I want to make it absolutely crystal clear that, one way or another, we will have a bigger submarine fleet, and more submarines means more jobs in South Australia. I want to make that absolutely crystal clear: more submarines means more jobs in South Australia.

Let us look at the fundamentals. The fundamentals are that we want the best possible submarines because it would be almost criminal to send Australian submariners to sea in anything other than the very best and most capable submarines. We want the best possible submarines at the best possible price—because, again, we have to be fair and reasonable to the taxpayers of this country. But of course, while we want the best possible subs and the best possible price, we want to maximise Australian participation in this particular arrangement. We do want to maximise Australian participation in this arrangement, so there will be a competitive process. Of course there will be a competitive process. You would expect a competitive process—

Mr Champion interjecting—

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