George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I can, Senator. The additional requirements of Garden Island by the Navy are to ensure that the berths that are available will meet future fleet infrastructure and security needs. The government will be publishing, later in the year, the Defence white paper. An element of the Defence white paper will deal with the future shape of the Australian Navy in the years and, indeed, the decades to come; and, consequential upon those needs, the facilities at Garden Island—and other naval bases as well—will be appropriately configured. When the Defence white paper is published and, in particular, when its indication of future naval needs is indicated, I will offer you a briefing in relation to the last question.