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

I constructively suggest to the good senator that, in due course, when the government releases the upcoming defence white paper, the integrated investment program and the new defence industry policy statement, which I have indicated will be released in the first quarter of this year, a number of the questions which the senator has raised will, indeed, be addressed.

In relation to the competitive evaluation processes, I think it is very important to put this on the record: they require a very significant degree of probity around them to ensure that they are carried out in an exemplary manner. It is a very important aspect of this. I suspect those opposite are the first people who would try to impugn our integrity if we undermined the probity of those competitive evaluation processes. The commitment was very clear. The senator is very welcome to go to the record in relation to the future frigates, which will start in Adelaide in 2018 and in 2020 for both ships. (Time expired)