House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-10-31 Daily Xml

Contents

Defence Naval Shipbuilding

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:11): Supplementary question to the Premier: has the Premier received a briefing from the federal government with regard to a possible reduction in the scope of the Hunter class program and its potential impacts?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:11): The short answer to that question is no, not a formal briefing. I have had the opportunity to speak to the Deputy Prime Minister both prior to our formal submission being delivered to the commonwealth and then post that formal submission being delivered to the commonwealth. I have also had the chance to speak to the Deputy Prime Minister in the last fortnight regarding a range of issues, including the surface ship review.

I wanted the Deputy Prime Minister to hear from me directly and not just through his, I am sure, diligent assessment of the South Australian parliament's Hansard but certainly, his reading of media reports, particularly from the 'Tiser. I wanted to make sure the Deputy Prime Minister was hearing from me directly the views that I have been making clear on the public record, particularly around wanting to see an expedited and timely response to the submission review.

But in respect of the Leader of the Opposition's question specifically, no, I have not received any formal advice or any brief, even in an informal form, from the commonwealth around what its response will be to that surface ship review.