Surface Fleet Review

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:29): My question is again to the Acting Premier. Does the Acting Premier know when the surface fleet review will be made public? With your leave, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: The federal Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, has indicated that the federal government will provide a response to the surface fleet review early next year. Australian Industry and Defence Network chief, Brent Clark, has asked, and I quote:

At what point is the government going to start issuing contracts because industry, particularly local industry, is suffering.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water) (14:30): The question was about when this will be made public. I recall when we were on the opposition benches, the then Premier would frequently say, 'I refer to my previous answer' and sit down, but I will do the courtesy to the opposition that maybe they didn't hear all of the question that I answered before. As I said, the government has made it clear that they will be responding in the first quarter of next year.