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

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:15): My question is to the Minister for Defence and Space Industries.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens, order!

Mr PATTERSON: Has the minister sought advice about the impact to South Australian defence businesses of the Hunter Class Frigate Program being relocated from Osborne to Glasgow?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:15): I would like to thank the shadow minister for his question. It helps highlight the fact that the Liberal Party seem to be rather excited about speculation on speculation.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Premier, there is—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Morphett, your colleague is seeking—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I think we well know the provisions of 134. We can return to the member for Morialta.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Standing order 98: the question was specifically relating to whether a minister had sought a briefing about a set of circumstances as has been reported in the media. The Premier, by characterising the debate as the intentions of the member asking, is debating. It's pure and simple debate. It's contrary to standing orders.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! That may be; however, it is barely possible to hear the Premier, given the level of interjections. I will listen carefully. It would aid us all greatly if the level of interjections were to reduce, otherwise 137A will be necessary.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: The state government has absolutely no reason to believe, and we certainly received no advice, despite having repeated conversations with the commonwealth, including the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is warned.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —including with the Deputy Prime Minister over a substantial period, as has been explained to the Leader of the Opposition in this forum on a number of occasions. I have spoken to the Deputy Prime Minister regarding the Defence Strategic Review and the surface ship review on a number of occasions. I haven't spoken to the Deputy Prime Minister in the last 24 hours, that is true, but I have spoken to the Deputy Prime Minister on a number of occasions over the last few months, including in recent weeks, regarding the Defence Strategic Review and the surface ship review. My last conversation with the Deputy Prime Minister, as I think I explained in the house yesterday, for those who were present—and I appreciate not all members opposite are always present in the house during question time—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: My last conversation—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Florey is warned.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: My last conversation with the Deputy Prime Minister regarding the surface ship review, the 90-day review, was last week. We have sought assurances from the commonwealth that they remain committed to the acceptance of the recommendation of the continuous ship build here in South Australia. There has been no departure from that position. I am aware of the report in the Adelaide Advertiser this morning. We do not have any advice or any reason to believe that there is any prospect of the program being cancelled here in South Australia and replaced in Scotland. I know those opposite seem to be rather excited about that proposition. I think that would be a—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Hartley is warned for a final time. Member for Morialta, under 134.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order: standing order 98, the Premier is again debating.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There is some force in the matter that the member for Morialta raises, although this is a question that of course invites quite a considerable amount of context. I will listen carefully.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: We will continue to advocate to the Deputy Prime Minister and every other member of the commonwealth government at every level regarding the state government's very clear position on the matter.

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