Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence. I refer the minister to his refusal to rule out buying Japanese submarines for Australia's future submarine project. Is the minister aware of evidence given to a Senate committee last night by retired Rear Admiral Peter Briggs, the former head of the submarine capability team, who compared the Japanese Soryu submarine to the Collins, saying, 'It's slower and it doesn't go as far, and that's perfectly reasonable for the Japanese situation, but it would be untenable for Australia's situation'? Minister, is Rear Admiral Briggs correct?