Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I can, Senator Hughes. The Collins class submarine continues to achieve Royal Australian Navy requirements. The Collins class submarine is technically only halfway through its life and remains a highly potent and capable platform. But, to manage the transition between the Collins class and the delivery of the first Attack class, we will conduct life-of-type extensions to the Collins class submarines. That's why this government will continue to sustain the fleet with a regime of intermediate and mid- and full-cycle dockings. This means that the Collins class submarines are spending more days at sea today than ever before. They're conducting more exercises and are participating in more operations that directly contribute to our nation's defence capability and our security. The government has 12 active Collins-related major capital projects, including communication upgrades and sonar upgrades, which will continue to extend the life of the Collins and continue to make it a capability that Australia requires. (Time expired)