Defence Naval Shipbuilding

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): My question is to the Premier. Does the Premier stand by his comments made earlier this month relating to the future of the Hunter class program in South Australia? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: On 19 October 2023, the Premier informed the house that, and I quote:

If the government were to abandon Hunter…then the problem with that would be straight back to the drawing board and we go immediately back into a valley of death. That is unacceptable from the state government's perspective.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:18): Absolutely.