Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Manufacturing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Abbott government's backpedalling from its pre-election commitment to build the replacement submarines in South Australia continues. Prior to the election, the Minister for Defence, Mr David Johnston, said:

We will deliver those submarines from right here at ASC in South Australia.

The Coalition today is committed to building 12 new submarines here in Adelaide …

Last Thursday the member for Eden-Monaro claimed in this House that the Abbott government had never promised to build the subs in South Australia but that any work relating to the subs would be 'centred on Adelaide'.

Defence Minister Johnston's pre-election commitment to South Australia about the replacement submarines was crystal clear—they would be built in Adelaide. The claim that the work would be centred on Adelaide is political spin by a government that is trying to extricate itself from another pre-election promise and that appears to be paving the way for a deal with Japan.

Not only is this issue critical for South Australia; it also matters to Australians right across the country. Australians will not be fooled by spin. Unlike the auto industry, which the Abbott government turned its back on, with the replacement submarine program the buck stops fairly and squarely with the Abbott government. Where are the South Australian Liberals on this issue? I note the member for Hindmarsh is in the chamber. It seems that they too have gone to water.