SENATOR THE HON STEPHEN CONROY
DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
SENATOR FOR VICTORIA
SENATOR KIM CARR
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND INDUSTRY
SENATOR FOR VICTORIA
DAVID FEENEY MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR JUSTICE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE CENTENARY OF THE ANZAC
MEMBER FOR BATMAN
ABBOTT EXPOSED ON SUBMARINE HYPOCRISY
Tony Abbott’s hypocrisy has been put up in lights today, as he argues for “the significant benefits that flow from a domestic build” of Australia’s Future Frigates, but refuses to keep his promise to build Australia’s Future Submarines locally.
When asked why the Future Frigates should be built in Australia, Tony Abbott finally admitted what Labor has said all along – that there are significant benefits from a domestic Australian build.
“There are significant benefits that flow from a domestic build”Tony Abbott, Press Conference, 4 August 2015
But what’s good for our Future Frigates is apparently not good for our Future Submarines.
Industry experts have said unequivocally that anything less than a commitment to build both the Future Frigates and Future Submarines in Australia will put jobs at risk.
“If Australia wants to have a long-term, sustainable, competitive, world-class naval industry, we need to plan to build both future frigates and future submarines in this country.”Dr John White, Chairman of TKMS Australia, 22 July 2015
That’s why Labor has said Australia’s Future Frigates must be built in Australia and so must our Future Submarines.
Today we also witnessed the unedifying spectacle of Mr Abbott further distancing himself from his Government’s pre-election promise to build 12 submarines in South Australia and from his first disastrous Defence Minister, Senator David Johnston.
“Now I know the former Defence Minister made a stronger statement than that at one stage but the policy was that work on the next generation of submarines was focused on the South Australian shipyards.”Tony Abbott, FIVEaa Breakfast, 4 August 2015
The explanation for this hypocrisy is simple – Tony Abbott’s sham submarine process was never based on facts or merit.
It was designed purely to save Mr Abbott’s job during the height of Liberal leadership tensions and to fulfil his promise to the Japanese Prime Minister to send our Future Submarines to Japan.
Tony Abbott only has one job in mind when it comes to Australia’s shipbuilders – his own.