Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Morrison government is helping to protect Australians and build a more resilient economy by continuing to strengthen Australia's defence capability?

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

I thank Senator Henderson for her question and for her fearless pursuit of defence industry and jobs in her state. This government is investing more than $200 billion to deliver a more potent, agile and capable ADF. The investment will ensure that we maintain our capability edge and are prepared for a more contested geostrategic environment in the Indo-Pacific. This reinvestment is vital after years of cuts, delays and indecision under Labor, which included cutting defence funding to 1.56 per cent of GDP, the lowest level since 1938.

The Morrison government is getting on with the job of making considered investment choices based on capability requirements and emerging threats, as well as building a strong sovereign industrial base and creating jobs right across Australia. This financial year alone we have invested $8.2 billion in crucial capabilities. We are moving ahead on the $90 billion naval shipbuilding plan. We are already building 57 naval vessels in Australia, by Australian workers with Australian steel. Over $5 billion of investment in Army's next generation logistic vehicle fleet has achieved initial operating capability and is ready for training and major exercises. In fact, the fleet did an extraordinary job for our nation on Operation Bushfire Assist. Under our $18 billion commitment to deliver the next generation of air strike capability, we welcomed another seven F-35s to Australia in December last year, bringing the total here in Australia to 13. The Morrison government is ensuring that the men and women of the Australian Defence Force have the equipment and capability they need to fight and win.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister update the Senate on how this progress in our defence programs is creating jobs for Australia and supporting Australian defence industry, particularly in my home state of Victoria?

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

Key to this the successful delivery of defence capability is our partnership with Australian defence industry. This is truly a national endeavour. There are thousands of companies right across Australia involved in defence projects and supply chains that are supporting hundreds of thousands of Australian jobs. It is this government that is ensuring that Australian industry involvement is maximised in all defence programs to build a sovereign industrial base that supports Australian jobs. In Victoria, for example, Universal Motion Simulation in Geelong was awarded a $21.4 million contract for sustainment of six training simulators for the Boxer combat recognisance vehicle. Over 50 Australian companies have contracts already supplying the global supply chain for the F-35, including 17 in Victoria, Senator Henderson. (Time expired)

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

Senator Henderson, a final supplementary question.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister advise how the self-propelled howitzer program will deliver necessary capability and create jobs for Australians, particularly in my home state of Victoria, and is the minister aware of any threats to this vital project?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Before I call Senator Reynolds I am having trouble hearing with the level of murmuring in the chamber. Order! We are wasting time for the opposition in question time. I will call Senator Reynolds when there is silence. Senator Reynolds.

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

Senator Henderson, yes, there is a threat to this project: Labor and the member for Corio himself, Richard Marles.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Cormann, on a point of order.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Interjections are disorderly. Within seconds of you making your ruling, the opposition interjected again. I ask you to call them to order.

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

Interjections are always disorderly. I would ask people that when I call for silence—I'm going to go back to the rule where I ask people to count to 10 before they start interjecting again.

Senator Farrell interjecting—

Order! I'm sure you can count, Senator Farrell. I'll take that interjection. Senator Reynolds to continue.

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

It's no surprise that Labor doesn't want to hear the answer to this, because the only threat to this project is the member for Corio himself, Richard Marles. It is deeply disappointing that the shadow minister for defence, himself, whose seat is in the heart of Geelong, continues to talk down Geelong's ability to support this project.

The Morrison government is extremely proud of its commitment to build and sustain 30 self-propelled howitzers in Geelong, providing vital Army capability and delivering up to 350 jobs. This project is fully funded and is now underway. Mr Marles represents an electorate with one of the highest unemployment rates in this country yet he continues to talk down this important project for Army capability, which will also deliver jobs for Geelong. The people of Geelong deserve so much better.