Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Wong for her question. As the senator is aware, when the continuous shipbuilding plan was announced by the then Prime Minister in Adelaide last year, it was a very important step for Australia's naval shipbuilding industry. In fact, it, as well as the commencement of the competitive evaluation process for the future submarines, is the first real undertaking by government, post the period where those opposite commissioned not one single naval vessel, to actually engage in this key replacement of capability for the Australian Navy. Part of the continuous ship build will include the construction of offshore patrol vessels, future frigates and, of course, in due course, the future submarines. It has been made very clear that the competitive evaluation process for both the future frigates and the offshore patrol vessels is currently underway, and I do not intend to second-guess that.