House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-11-02 Daily Xml

Contents

Hunter Class Frigate Program

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:14): My question is to the Minister for Defence and Space Industries. Has the minister met with the Deputy Prime Minister to seek an assurance that there will be no cuts to the Hunter Class Frigate Program and, if so, on what date?

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) (14:14): I have of course met with the Deputy Premier. Most of the discussions in the interim have occurred via the Premier.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Please be seated, Deputy Premier. The—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! It is not possible for the Chair and therefore presumably for other members to hear the Deputy Premier. We will hear the Deputy Premier.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: I have of course met with the Deputy Prime Minister and, following the Defence Strategic Review, most of the discussions subsequent to that have occurred via the Premier, as is appropriate. The question of his, in the present case, is specifically about the speculation in the press in the last day and, of course, the Deputy Prime Minister is overseas at present.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Dunstan, your colleague is seeking to ask a question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Florey, order!