House debates Questions without Notice
Defence Procurement
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
2:26 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, didn't the government promise before the election to build Australia's future submarines in Adelaide? Will they be built there?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Where they are built depends upon the results of the competitive evaluation process. But I will tell you what—they will be built. If members opposite were still in government they would still be sitting on their hands, the procrastination would be continuing, and there would be a massive submarine capability gap at the end of the next decade.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Sydney has asked her question and will desist, as will the member for McMahon.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
What we said pre-election was absolutely crystal clear—
Amanda Rishworth Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health
Yes, you would build 12 submarines in Adelaide.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
What we said was that the Australian work on the new submarines would centre on the South Australian shipyards. There will be more subs, because we take the defence of Australia seriously. There will be more subs because the defence of Australia matters to people on this side of the parliament, and more subs means more jobs in South Australia.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. It is difficult for the Prime Minister to be relevant without saying the word 'Adelaide'.