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

I think there are some aspects of Senator Patrick's question which use perhaps slightly confusing terminology, but let me see if I can understand the direction you were heading, Senator Patrick. It's the defence industrial capability plan, of which the sovereign industrial capability assessment program is a part, which is currently under development by the department and the Minister for Defence Industry and myself. That plan will include a number of sovereign industrial capability priorities. They will be the key industrial capabilities that need to be resident in Australia to ensure the defence of our nation. Those sovereign industrial capability priorities will focus on those industrial capabilities that are highest priorities for Defence in supporting their operational and capability needs, rather than broader consideration of the Australian defence industry base and its diverse capabilities and support for Defence. The defence industrial capability plan itself— (Time expired)