David Fawcett SA, Liberal Party
2:51 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. Can the minister guarantee that all nine of the scheduled Hunter class frigates, or any variation to them, will be built in Adelaide, as Labor repeatedly promised prior to the last election?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Yes.
David Fawcett SA, Liberal Party
2:52 pm
Minister, thank you for that commitment from the government to all nine frigates being built in Adelaide. Minister Marles received the surface fleet review in September. Given that he has repeatedly recognised and referred to the deteriorating strategic circumstances faced by Australia and talked about the urgency that is needed—the urgent need for action—will the government actually respond to the surface ships review this calendar year, or will there be further delays?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I thank Senator Fawcett for his first supplementary question. I don't know who wrote that question for you, Senator Fawcett, but, coming from South Australia, you witnessed time and time and time again the failure of the former government to do anything about providing support in the serious area of defence. Who was the government that cancelled the Naval contract? Who was the government that ended up spending—well, leaving the Labor government to spend—$6 billion to fix up the mess that you'd made in the defence space and—
Sue Lines President
Senator Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator Fawcett.
David Fawcett SA, Liberal Party
A point of order on relevance: the question was about the government's response to the surface ship review, nothing about the substantial investment the coalition government made in the defence sector.
Sue Lines President
Thank you, Senator Fawcett. I'll direct the minister to the question. Minister Farrell.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Thank you, President. So for the whole of the time that you were in government, Senator—
Simon Birmingham SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
President—
Simon Birmingham SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
I can if you need me to, President. On a point of order, President: firstly, you don't need a point of order to draw a minister to a question, and the minister was flagrantly disregarding your drawing him to the question. I invite you to do so, and encourage you to do so, without always needing a point of order.
Sue Lines President
Thank you, Senator Birmingham. I will once again remind the minister of the question.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
With all due respect, on the point of order I don't think you need those gratuitous comments from the deputy leader of the— (Time expired)
David Fawcett SA, Liberal Party
2:54 pm
Minister, there have been numerous representations from defence industry and their allies, urging faster decision-making and raising concerns that the number of reviews, the cuts in real terms to budgets and the slow speed of decision-making are harming investment and the delivery of critical military capability. When and how will the government respond to those concerns?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
2:55 pm
I thank Senator Fawcett for his second supplementary question. We're finally back on track here; all of the chopping and changing in the defence space under your government is behind us now. That's—
David Fawcett SA, Liberal Party
I have a point of order, on relevance. The question was about the fact that the government won't even define 'track', not whether or not they think they're back on track. He's not being relevant to the question that was asked.
Sue Lines President
I will remind the minister of the question, thank you, Senator Fawcett. Minister Farrell.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Thank you, President. I don't think could be more relevant in pointing out the failure, after failure, after failure of the former government! Let's remember—
Sue Lines President
Minister Farrell, I draw your attention to Senator Fawcett's question. Senator Fawcett, did you still want to make a point of order?
David Fawcett SA, Liberal Party
Yes, a point of order: the minister is misleading the house.
Sue Lines President
That's not a point of order, Senator Fawcett, and you're well aware of that! Minister Farrell.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
If that's the best he can do! Look, with defence Minister Marles we have a person who we know we can trust. He's a safe pair of hands in this place, and Australians know that this is a government that is serious about ensuring their long-term defence needs.