DEFENCE INDUSTRY

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood) (14:39): I have a supplementary, Madam Speaker. Can the Premier tell us exactly when the final air warfare destroyer will be launched and when the future submarine project will actually begin work? Can he confirm to the parliament what he just said there, that there will be no gap between the end of the air warfare destroyer contract and the beginning of the future submarine construction here in South Australia?

The SPEAKER: I will count that as a question.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:40): I do not have the precise details—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Am I allowed to finish my answer, Madam Speaker?

The SPEAKER: Yes. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I do not have the precise details in front of me of all of the scheduling of each of the contracts, but my understanding—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: My understanding is that the projected end of one contract and the beginning of the other is in the 2019 period and that is what the federal—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Norwood, order! One more and you will go.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The 2019 period is an important period for the completion of certain packages of work in relation to the air warfare destroyers contract. This would be the period when the future submarine project would also be gearing up. The intention of the scheduling and the way in which it has been announced today is to ensure a seamless transition between those two projects. That is the objective of the commonwealth. I think that it is a sensible objective. It meets directly the concerns that industry has raised.

Significant sections of the defence industry have confirmed that it has the very effect for which I have just contended. Significant sections of the defence industry have today confirmed publicly that it has the very effect for which I contend, that is, the seamless flow of work between the end of work on the air warfare destroyers contract and the beginning of the future submarine contract. I know that the shadow minister opposite advances himself as an expert in this area, but I am more prepared to accept the defence industry experts than I am those opposite.