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

Thank you, Senator Patrick, for the question. I'm incredibly proud to be part of a government that is unashamedly backing Australian industry. In 2013 this government took a stand to rebuild our Australian naval shipbuilding industry. In the 2020 Force structure plan we committed to build more than 70 naval vessels right here in Australia. A key part of strengthening our sovereign industrial base will involve working with trusted partners and suppliers, particularly where Australia is growing and developing capability. Our collaboration with international suppliers is helping build Australian capacity and also our sovereign capability. These companies are establishing uniquely Australian subsidiaries that are doing a number of things, including transferring skills and know-how to Australia, employing thousands and thousands of Australians, and exporting Australian-built cutting-edge capability to the world.