Mary Doyle (Aston, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. How is the Albanese government delivering for Defence, and what are the alternative approaches?

Matt Keogh (Burt, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for their question. The highest duty of any government is to defend the Australian people and safeguard our national interest. The Albanese Labor government is laser focused on delivering this through record Defence investments, our reform agenda and getting the equipment our ADF needs into their hands sooner. We're delivering warships way ahead of schedule. We're producing autonomous Ghost Shark submarines right now to safeguard our maritime approaches. We're rolling missiles out of an Aussie factory and building a second one right now, and we're acquiring counterdrone capabilities in record time.

Now, I'm asked about alternative approaches. While we've been busy delivering, what's the former shadow defence minister been up to? He certainly hasn't been asking many questions in parliament—three Defence questions in 285 days. To be fair, I think he's actually learned from his disastrous time as the shadow Treasurer. Some would reflect and try and improve their performance but not the member for Hume. He's decided the simplest solution is to just disappear. You can't fail if no-one knows you're the shadow defence minister. Three defence questions in 285 days—clearly his focus has been elsewhere. One thing is crystal clear: his focus is self-interest, not the national interest.

Let's summarise our approach to Defence compared to the member for Hume's record. We're acquiring stealth fighters. He was a stealth shadow minister. We're investing record amounts in our submarines as part of the silent service. He was the silent Defence spokesperson. We have the Nulka, which imitates warships to decoy missiles. He imitated Facebook followers. We're forging ammunition and shells. He used documents that—let's say—weren't real.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will pause. I want to hear from the manager.

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You probably don't. On relevance, the minister's not being relevant to the question, and he's indulging in fake news. I'd ask you to pull him to order and sit him down if he can't answer a serious question.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Fake news for someone else!

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, no. Calm down, mate.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The manager doesn't need to add when he's raising points of order. I'm just going to remind the minister he was asked about other approaches. I've given him some leeway. He should just make sure his answer is being directly relevant to what he was asked about and perhaps update the House on policy.

Matt Keogh (Burt, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll keep talking about our approach to Defence compared to the alternative one. We're investing in better camouflage for the Army. He camouflaged power prices. We're increasing long-range strikes for the Navy. He's launched a close-range strike on the opposition leader. We're getting new ships, new missiles and new drones. He got a new haircut. We're focused on defence. He's blowing up the Liberal Party. We're focused on the defence of the nation. They're just embroiled in their divisions and putting their self-interest ahead of the national interest.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order. The members for Gippsland and Cowper are now on warnings alongside the member for Barker.