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

Thank you, Senator Fawcett, for the question and for your enduring passion and commitment to this important capability for our nation. The first responsibility of any Australian government is to keep Australia and Australians safe. That's why the Morrison government is investing over $200 billion to deliver the modern Defence Force our nation needs. This government recognises that the security dynamics in our region are deteriorating, and we must invest in Australia's naval capability to address these challenges. Highly capable maritime forces are vital to our defence strategy, and none more than submarines. By 2035, we estimate that we will have over 300 submarines operating in our region.

As a maritime nation, our future prosperity depends on a stable, rules based order and the free flow of goods and services across our region through international sea lines of communication. This government's Australian Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise is unprecedented in both scale and ambition. In Australia, we are simultaneously building five separate classes of new vessels, including the highly complex submarines and frigates. In total, we have commissioned 63 Australian built naval vessels. Six have already been delivered and nine more are currently under construction. For the Hunter class anti-submarine warfare frigates and the Arafura class offshore patrol vessels, we have adopted ambitious but deliverable schedules for design and for construction. Not only has this saved Australian jobs but it is also creating many thousands more for many decades to come.

All Australians have so much to be proud of in this truly national endeavour, and it is time to talk up our nation's achievements and not undermine them. (Time expired)