House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-02-20 Daily Xml

Contents

Hunter Class Frigate Program

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:35): My question is to the Minister for Defence and Space Industries. How does the minister respond to Brent Clark, chief executive of the Australian Industry & Defence Network, regarding the continuous naval shipbuilding program in South Australia? With your leave and that of the house, sir, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr PATTERSON: An Advertiser article on 14 February said that Mr Clark said that six Hunter class frigates would not meet the federal government's promise of continuous naval shipbuilding in Adelaide.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

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) (14:36): I feel that the Premier has more than adequately answered that question but obviously it had been preprepared and had to be asked anyway. Very clearly the announcement is not only for six frigates but for a further three and then continuous shipbuilding. So the question is answered in itself. It is giving half of the answer and not the full answer.