Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last Thursday, the Deputy Prime Minister made an important statement about securing Australia's sovereignty in which he spoke about the importance of defence partnerships and sovereign capability. The previous day union leaders representing Australia's naval construction workforce briefed MPs about the risk of a capability gap that will arise if specialised workforce skills and naval fleet construction are lost. Australia has a proven track record in naval fleet construction, including in building submarines. In South Australia, naval fleet construction at the ASC site is critical to the development and sustainment of specialist engineering design and trade skills, which can take years to develop. Naval construction will be critical to Australian manufacturing capability, particularly since the last coalition government triggered the demise of GMH and ultimately Australia's car makers.

Naval construction work is vital to the South Australian economy. South Australia has the facilities, the industry expertise, the skills and the track record of significantly contributing to Australia's military defence and national security. I welcome the Deputy Prime Minister's statement, I thank him for his answer to my defence procurement question last Monday, and I look forward to South Australia continuing to play a leading role in naval construction and securing our nation's future.