Senator HOGG (7:16 PM) —Following on my from my two colleagues from South Australia, I can understand their pleasure at the construction of the air warfare destroyers being awarded to the ASC in South Australia. The ASC have a proven track record with the construction of the Collins class submarines, which are now recognised as being in a class all of their own. That has been demonstrated in various exercises that they have participated in over a long period of time. However, I think my colleagues have rightly drawn attention to the important issue of the replacements for HMAS Manoora and HMAS Kanimbla. That is going to be important for the defence shipbuilding industry in Australia.

Senator McGauran interjecting—

Senator HOGG —I hear from Senator McGauran across the chamber, who seems all of a sudden to have become the new Minister for Defence. I do not know if Minister Hill is aware of that at this stage, but it is interesting to hear Senator McGauran intervene. As has been pointed out by my colleague Senator Wortley, Senator Hill made the point that at this stage the government have gone from saying that the ships will be built in Australia to it being a preference that the ships be built in Australia. Whilst one might understand the position the minister is coming from, it would be interesting to hear—if he gets time in this debate—whether Senator McGauran shares the same views as the minister or whether the minister is lagging behind Senator McGauran. I do not think the latter is likely to be the case.

However, what is really at risk here is the importance of a skilled work force in Australia able to support the building of a platform essential for our defence purposes. It is one thing to look at the designs that might be picked up from overseas, but it is another thing to ensure that those defence platforms are constructed in Australia using Australian labour and having as high an Australian content as one can possibly have to ensure that we are in command of our own future. There is nothing worse than trying to buy an off-the-shelf product and then finding that one’s nation is stranded, particularly in the important area of defence.

One would hope that, after nine long years in government, this government would have learnt to not just go down the path of a preference for Australian shipbuilding but to go down the path of insisting that Australian companies have equal opportunity to participate in the building of these two replacement ships that are going to be considered at in 2006. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.