Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Since the Prime Minister has promised that 'good government starts today', isn't it the case that, until the Prime Minister commits to a full and open tender process to build Australia's future submarines, nothing has changed at all?

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

At least the Leader of the Opposition is now asking a question on a very important subject, and I am grateful for that. But that question is only being asked because the Labor Party did nothing for six years. They did absolutely nothing for six years. Decisions about the future submarine fleet should have been made years and years ago, but the Labor Party could not decide what mattered more—

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs will desist!

Ms Macklin interjecting—

And the member for Jagajaga will also!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to 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—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield!

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

and Australian entities should be part of it. They are certainly encouraged to be part of it, and I expect them to be part of it. The bottom line—because we are at the beginning of this process; we are not at the end—is: more subs means more jobs for South Australia, and that is more good news for South Australia from the Abbott government.