QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:09): The President's affirmation of AUKUS is a strong and welcome signal of the strength of our alliance with of the United States, and the President couldn't have been clearer that it's 'full steam ahead' for AUKUS. AUKUS will better enable Australia to contribute to the strategic balance of our region to ensure that our region remains peaceful, stable and prosperous and a region in which sovereignty is respected.

That is in Australia's national interests and that helps keep Australians safe. AUKUS is also a once-in-a-generation jobs and skills opportunity for Australia, particularly in my home state of South Australia but across the country. We are partnering with higher education on STEM courses.

The Skills and Training Academy is being built and apprentices are being trained through TAFE SA. Seven thousand more Australians will work at the Osborne Naval Shipyard. This means highly skilled, well-paying, secure jobs in South Australia and across the country now and for the future, jobs only Labor will deliver.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Ciccone, second supplementary?