David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Again, I thank Senator Bernardi for the question. In August 2007 the then opposition leader, Kevin Rudd, said that (1) a Labor government would ensure that submarines were built by ASC and (2) construction would begin in about 2017. And then he said: 'Starting the process this year'—2007—'will guarantee continuity of work for South Australia's defence industry.' But, as we all know, absolutely nothing was done. Gee—that sounds a bit like a broken promise, I would have thought. Instead, they took $20 billion out of the future submarine program. When I became Defence minister I was immediately advised that Navy faced a capability gap because nothing had been done.

Senator Conroy interjecting—