Rex Patrick (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Hansard source

The public interest immunity claimed by the minister in this instance is extremely shallow, suggesting that a total number offered on a submarine preconcept design that will never see the light of day is in some way commercially in confidence. In fact, the Department of Defence recently released the total number offered for the offshore patrol vessel contract. There is no reason why this number shouldn't be provided to the Senate. The Senate needs these sorts of numbers to do its job properly.

Question agreed to.