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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-09-10 Daily Xml
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FUTURE SUBMARINE PROJECT

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (16:47): My question is to the Minister for Defence Industries. Can the minister give the house an update on the status of the Future Submarine project?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (16:47): I thank the member for Little Para for his question. Can I first congratulate Tony Abbott on becoming Prime Minister elect and wish him well in the difficult and heavy responsibility of leading our nation, not just for those who voted for a Coalition government but hope that he does so for all Australians and all states in our federation. It is with that responsibility in mind that I answer this question that is so important to South Australia's future as the defence state.

The state Labor government's targeted pursuit in building our defence industries is renowned and envied across the nation. We have the most pre-eminent board in the nation, chaired by General Peter Cosgrove ACMC. Together with his board and the team at Defence SA, he works tirelessly in promoting SA defence projects, like the Future Submarine project. The Future Submarine project will be the largest and most complex defence project ever undertaken in Australia. It will provide enormous opportunities for local industry and transform the South Australian economy. The project will secure many thousands of South Australian jobs for decades to come and will be crucial to building up our state's capability in advanced manufacturing.

The outgoing commonwealth Labor government was dedicated to assembling 12 future submarines here in Adelaide. Indeed, in May of this year a media release from the leader of the state opposition stated, 'The state Liberals welcome the Coalition's confirmation today that the 12 submarines will be built in Adelaide under the Coalition government,' but more recent announcements by the Coalition are less reassuring. The Coalition's defence policy released on the eve of the election does continue to promise that the replacement of the submarine fleet will 'centre around SA shipyards', but it does not commit to specific numbers of submarines. Frankly, this is not good enough for the 27,000 South Australians—

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: Point of order, member for Stuart.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Standing order 98: debate.

The SPEAKER: No, it is not debate. The minister was asked a question about the policy of a new federal government and it is within standing orders for him to offer the house information about that, including his assessment as a minister of that policy as it bears on South Australia.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Mr Speaker, with respect, I don't believe the question included anything about future Coalition policy. I think the question was quite specific about an update of the future submarine project, and I believe that when the minister includes a comment that says, 'This is not good enough,' about the policy, it really has nothing to do with answering the question.

The SPEAKER: If South Australian ministers could not comment in question time about the policy of an incoming federal government about this project, I don't know that they could say very much; question time would be very dull indeed. Minister.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Frankly, Mr Speaker, this is not good enough for the 27,000 South Australians and their families who rely on the defence industries to put food on their table. I want to know where the state opposition stand on this matter. The government's position is clear—

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order without hearing it because, of course, the minister is not responsible for the policies of the state opposition.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I apologise, sir. But the government's position is clear: we will fight for South Australia at every turn. We are putting the interests of ordinary South Australians first. The building of 12 submarines was an absolute certainty under a federal Labor government, and it was portrayed—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —as a certainty in May by the Liberals, state and federal. South Australians must have assurance that this transforming project is still going ahead; they must have assurance that 12 submarines will be built, and built here in Adelaide. Mr Speaker, I give a commitment to the house that this government will continue to stand up for the thousands of South Australian jobs at stake. As Minister for Defence Industries, I will do everything I can do to hold Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott to the commitment that 12 submarines will be built here, and I ask those opposite to do the same.

The SPEAKER: I call the members for Hammond, Kavel and Unley to order, as the leaders of that disruptive episode. Member for Morphett.

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