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

As the 2016 defence white paper detailed, the government is undertaking a comprehensive regeneration of our maritime and antisubmarine warfare capabilities that will enable our forces to operate in more challenging maritime threat environments. Indeed, by 2035 around half the world's submarines will be operating in the Indo-Pacific region, where Australia's interests are most engaged.

Submarines are a vital strategic defence capability for Australia. An expanded fleet of 12 regionally superior submarines will be able to sustain presence in multiple areas at once and, indeed, over prolonged periods of operation. They are powerful instruments for deterring conflict and potent weapons should conflict occur. Delivering a more potent and agile set of defence capabilities ready to respond whenever our interests are threatened or our help is needed is both an obligation and a priority for the Turnbull government.