Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. The Minister for Defence Industry has said there are over 130 Australian companies and organisations subcontracted in the design phase of the Future Submarines. Can the minister then explain why this government counts the work of French-language school Alliance Francaise d'Adelaide as Australian industry content for the Future Submarines?

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

I think I have already in this question time comprehensively gone through what our policy is in relation to the Future Submarine project and Australian industry, and in terms of what stage we are at. Can I remind the senator that we are in the early design phase and we are two years away from—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Wong, on a point of order.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is direct relevance. This is a direct quotation from the minister's junior minister which is making an assertion about local content. We have asked the minister why Alliance Francaise is included as being one of the companies that the government has counted for local content. We haven't asked about policy; we've asked a very specific question about what is included in local content.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm listening carefully to the minister's answer. You've reminded her of the nature of the question. She can also respond to the quotation of the minister. But she has been speaking for only 20 seconds, and I'll call the minister to continue.

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

Senator Wong or the senator who asked the question might not understand the importance of this phase of the project; however, it is incredibly important. We are still in the early design phase. As I said in a previous answer, through Naval Group, that money is going back into the local communities. In the cases you cited, they are South Australian companies that employ Australians. So whether they are a service provider or a construction or a manufacturing company, they are Australian companies employing Australian people—and, unlike you opposite, we think that is a very good thing.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell, a supplementary question?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, thank you, Mr President; I do have one. Can the minister explain why this government counts media monitoring as Australian industry content for the future submarines?

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

Senator Farrell, I've made this point at least three or four times in question time already: this is money going into Australian businesses in local Australian communities employing Australians. You might not think that is a good thing—because, clearly, you dismally failed in doing that at all; in fact, you created the valley of death. You might not like it, but we are putting money, through our contractors, including primes—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Wong, on a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, a point of order on direct relevance. It was a very simple question that we'd asked the minister to be directly relevant to, which is why the government believes media monitoring should be counted as Australian industry content for future submarines. Why is media monitoring part of local content?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, with respect to the point of order, the minister can answer it as long as she is being directly relevant. That goes, in my view, to instructing her how to answer a question. The minister was explaining the government's position on the importance of money being spent locally. I do concede that to be directly relevant. There's an opportunity after question time to debate answers.

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

I really don't think I've got much more to add. If Senator Wong does not understand Australian companies, and money going in, and Australian employees, I really have nothing more to add.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell, a final supplementary question?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. I do have another question. Can the minister explain why this government counts the work of the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of South Australia as Australian industry content for the future submarines?

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

As I've said, and for about the sixth time, Australian companies, Australian jobs, money in Australia.