MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Ms CLUTTERHAM (Sturt) (15:28): Our national defence strategy is clear: Australia faces its most challenging circumstances since the Second World War while remaining deeply connected to the global economy. In that environment, AUKUS is not optional; it is essential. But with that importance comes a clear responsibility to be transparent about the risks, honest about delivery challenges and unwavering in protecting Australia's national security interests.

The Albanese government has been up-front: AUKUS is a complex, multidecade endeavour. And of course there are risks, whether they relate to delivery timelines, industrial capacity or evolving program settings. It's a huge endeavour, and it's perfectly normal that there might be changes or bumps along the road.

But what is also clear, and what this government has been clear about to the Australian people, is that at every single decision point the US government has demonstrated its support of AUKUS. It has demonstrated its support of its partnership with Australia. The recent determination that Australia will receive three block IV Virginia class submarines instead of two block IV and one block VI has been painted as disastrous when it is not.

It was another decision point where a decision was actively made to keep moving forward. It means that the Australian submariners who'll be crewing the three Block IV Virginia class submarines and the Australian workers, some of whom will be in Western Australia and South Australia, who will be maintaining the three Block IV Virginia class submarines will be crewing and maintaining one platform in this class, not two.

This streamlines operations and maintenance and is more cost-effective for the Australian people at the same time as remaining fit for mission. Despite the US actively deciding to continue to partner with us with respect to AUKUS at every single decision point, there are still those calling for us to pull out of the partnership because of the current approach of the US administration to foreign policy, which is not always what we are accustomed to.

But I have two comments on this. Firstly, we need to look at our relationship with the US through the lens of ANZUS, which will shortly celebrate 75 years, on 1 September next year, and is a deep and sustainable alliance. We can't look at it through the lens of just one administration and the challenges that may present.

Secondly, these challenges are a reason to pursue AUKUS, to obtain the sovereign capability we need in order to deter and defend with as much sovereign self-sufficiency as we can—Australian boats, Australian crews, Australia first. We are shaping AUKUS to serve our national interest, including through stronger industrial safeguards, workforce development and ensuring that capability is delivered in a way that meets Australia's strategic needs.

Nowhere is this clearer than in South Australia. AUKUS is the centrepiece of A Future Made in Australia, and South Australia sits at its heart. At Osborne, up to 4,000 Australian workers will design and build the submarine construction yard itself.

At its peak, between 4,000 and 5,500 direct jobs will be created to build the nuclear powered submarines, right here in my state. Nationally, AUKUS will support around 20,000 direct jobs over the next 30 years—secure, highly skilled, future-focused jobs. These are not abstract numbers.

These are careers for electricians, engineers, fabricators, apprentices—young Australians who will build the most advanced fleet this country has ever operated. And this is more than just submarines. Through AUKUS pillar 2 we are also investing in cutting-edge technologies.

The first signature project developing advanced sensors and systems for uncrewed undersea vehicles demonstrates how Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States will collaborate to detect, deter and respond to threats to critical infrastructure, like undersea cables and pipelines. So AUKUS is not just a defence program; it's a generational opportunity about building capability, creating jobs and securing a future—one where our state, my state, is central to keeping Australians safe.

That is what sovereign capability looks like. That is what self-sufficiency looks like. That is what a future made in Australia looks like.