Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question and acknowledge her service. In Sydney this week is the Indo Pacific International Maritime Expo, Indo Pac 25. In conjunction with that is the chief of the Royal Australian Navy's sea power conference, at which there are 58 nations represented, including 35 chiefs of navy—everyone from the head of the Spanish Armada to the chief of the Chilean Navy and Admiral Koehler, the commander of the United States Pacific Fleet.

Building our own sea power is a key part of the Albanese government's increasing Australia's defence capability. It's no coincidence that our most recent decisions have been focused on our navy—the decision to pursue the Mogami class vessel by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as our future general-purpose frigate; the $1.7 billion that we are investing in Ghost Shark, a unique long-range underwater autonomous capability produced by Anduril Australia; and the $12 billion that we've committed to the Henderson defence precinct, which will be the home of continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia and the place where we will maintain our future submarines.

This is our government doing what we say and fulfilling our promises. It is also part of a $70 billion increase in defence spending over the decade, spending which is also happening in the here and now. In each of the last two financial years, we have set records for the amount that has been spent on defence procurement, the vast bulk of which has been spent on Australian defence industry. Together, this represents the largest peacetime increase in Australia's defence spending in our history.

It could not stand in more stark contrast to what we see from those opposite—not just when they were in government, but in opposition as well. When it comes to defence policy, they are lazy. They have gone on strike. Their shadow minister has been described as a terrible retail politician. These are not my views. These are the views of Peter Dutton, the former leader of the opposition who, until recently, sat in that seat for three years and, as such, on this topic, could rightly claim to be an expert witness. While those opposite have gone AWOL when it comes to defence, our government is delivering for our nation to keep Australians safe.

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