Defence Portfolio
Ms CLUTTERHAM (Sturt) (17:45): It has never been more important to do two things: ensure that the brave men and women of our defence force are properly equipped and ensure that Australia's strategy of denial is more than just words—that it's actioned for the good of the Australian people and their long-term sustainable safety and security. Defence is focused on a number of things.
First and foremost, it is increasing efforts to develop greater self-reliance over the longer term so that we can more ably and independently deter our adversaries—a strategy of denial. We are prioritising capability acquisition and then sustainment plans to deliver this strategy of denial. Ghost Bat, Ghost Shark, Mogami class frigates, landing craft heavy, landing craft medium, Virginia class nuclear propelled submarines and SSN-AUKUS boats—this will all strengthen our national security and our sovereign defence industrial base, the heart of which is in my great state of South Australia, and build stronger, more diverse international industrial partnerships.
We are increasing coordination with our regional partners to promote regional stability and to collectively deter actions against our interests and against the interests in our region. We have done this in spades—Indonesia, Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea—and we have built on the relationships that we've established in the region during the fuel security crisis that has been experienced due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Through the 2026 Integrated Investment Program, our government is investing almost half a billion dollars over the decade to deliver accelerated capability for the integrated, focused force that we need. This includes a larger and more lethal navy with more surface ships and conventionally armed nuclear powered submarines. We are a maritime continent; it is absolutely imperative that our maritime capability reflects this, not only from a defend-and-deter perspective but to protect our valuable trade and supply chain routes, to protect undersea cables, to protect the Australian people and to protect our economy.
We're also developing an air force that can provide air support for integrated operations, strengthening cyber capabilities to protect networks and systems, and we are enhancing our space capability—space being the fifth defence domain to provide space-based situational awareness and communication capabilities. Why are we doing this? We are in a changing world, with liberal democracies under significant pressure.
It is more important than ever that we have a properly thought out strategy of denial that promotes Australian security and regional stability, and we are doing this in partnership with our friends around the region. We have a down payment of $3.5 billion at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, in my home state of South Australia. That is a $3.5 billion down payment for the enabling works that will facilitate the record amount of infrastructure that will need to be built to facilitate the build of the SSN-AUKUS.
I have been out to the shipyard and can attest firsthand to the incredible amount of work that is going on at the Osborne shipyard and also to the dedication and commitment of the men and women who are building that infrastructure. There is also a $12 billion down payment at Henderson in Western Australia to help us forge ahead with our strategy of denial. I had the privilege recently of spending a week on HMAS Stirling meeting some of the incredible men and women who will be operating the capability that we are investing in as part of Australia's strategy to defend and deter—our strategy of denial—including Captain Amy Braun of the new ship Eyre; submariners John Lee, Justin Cloney and Byron Williamson; future submariner Dave Court; and MLO Gagan Singh.
That is why we invest. We invest because these men and women are putting their hands up to defend our country, and they are doing excellent work on HMAS Stirling. That is why we invest and we will continue to invest in the interests of the Australian people.