Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development) Share this | Hansard source

AUKUS is a core pillar of the Albanese government's national security policy to protect our nation's interests and security and to keep Australians safe. As the National Defence Strategy affirms, we confront the most challenging strategic circumstances since the Second World War, and we do so at a time when Australia's economic connection with the world has never been greater. AUKUS is in the strategic interests of Australia, and our investment commitment to AUKUS is fundamental to our national security. AUKUS will be one of the greatest industrial endeavours Australia has ever undertaken, supporting industry, jobs and infrastructure over decades. Our investment in conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines is fundamental to making sure our ADF has a much greater capacity to protect and defend Australia.

Importantly, we are delivering AUKUS at pace. AUKUS is happening. Since the announcement in March 2023, we have seen tangible progress on all fronts. This is an agreement that Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have been pursuing. We recognise that the investment is significant. It is an opportunity to build a future made in Australia, and we need to engage the industrial base of the entire nation. It will be the single biggest increase in our military capability since the establishment of the Navy more than a century ago and will be profoundly important to Australia's national security.

The Albanese government's plan to deliver AUKUS will create around 20,000 direct jobs over the next 30 years. This includes, at its peak, up to 4,000 Australian workers employed to design and build the submarine construction yard at Osborne in South Australia. A further 4,000 to 5,000 direct jobs will be created to build nuclear powered submarines in South Australia when the program reaches its peak. Around 3,000 direct jobs will be created to deliver infrastructure upgrades at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, and 500 more jobs will be created to support the sustainment of nuclear powered submarines from 2027.Our focus is on sticking to this plan and seeing it through. That is how we will get this capability.

Senator Shoebridge wants to play peacenik and stand up to protest against Australia's defence industry when he's talking to Greens members. I wonder how many of you know about his own defence policy for the Greens, where he announced plans to turn Australia into a major missile manufacturer. The Greens have made it clear that they don't believe in our ADF and that they don't believe in AUKUS. The Albanese government has promoted regular parliamentary engagement and community consultation through regular oversight in existing parliamentary committees and scrutiny through the Senate estimates process. The Greens are welcome to support the Albanese government to reintroduce legislation to establish the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence. This committee will enable scrutiny of classified matters in a secure setting, ensuring enhanced transparency, accountability and oversight of Defence decisions, capability, development and strategic planning, including AUKUS.