AUKUS Submarines

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): My question is to the Acting Premier. When will construction commence on the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines at the Osborne shipyard in Port Adelaide?

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): Construction initially will be starting in the next very short period to build the shipyard itself. There is some $2 billion that has been set aside by the federal government to spend in the next four years. The transfer of land was effected a week or so ago, and that was of course a very significant next stage for that to occur.

There will be the identification through a rigorous process of which company will be the primary shipbuilder. That will be announced, and then there will be, of course, the purchase—subject to what happens in congress—of the three Virginia-class submarines. The expectation is that as we head towards 2040 we will be building the submarines here.