Richard Marles Press Conference 20 February 2024

Approximate transcript below of Richard Marles

building 6 hunter class frigates at austal in procure general purpose frigate for which will be 11 - new class of ship for RAN - also procuring 6 large optionally crewed surface vesselsLOS vessels in develpment with SUA - capacity to operate in uncrewed fashion - though RAN will crew - will operate in conjunction with Hobart class air warfare destroyers and with Hunter class frigate s - those ships with the existin - up to 26 -

First friagate to be i ervice by end of "this decade" - surface combatant - up to 4- accelerating surface combatants into RAN - continuous shipbuilding at Osbourne in Adelaide - 6 hunter class frigates will be built there - last of those will enter service in 2043Hobart class - also to be built at Osborne after completion of 6 hunter call frigates - decision to be made for what decision that will be by 2035 - decision to commennce later this decademulti-decade pipeline for Osborne in Adelaidealso committing to continuous shipbuilding in Perth this plan establishes Henderson naval precinctAustal - strategic shipbuilding and we announced 2 cape class vessles along with 2 LCMthat will continueonce that work is ocmpletedGeneral purpose frigate WILL BE BUILT AT HENDERSON BY AUSTAL6 LSVS - at Henderson Naval precint - multidecade pipeline of work for Henderson precinctEnterYou sentwill take time to establish and consolidate precinct - need to accelerate procurement - so first 3 of class will be built offshore - surface fleet has commenced process - emanating from Spain - SK - decision on design will be made next year - contuinuous shipbuilding in Adelaide and PErth - someone starting their working life for ndustrial iendeavour - can work in that industry entire of working life - critical national asset for country - builds sovereign capacbility - indsutrial capability in our economy - announcing enduring commitment to surface fleet over next few decadesEnterYou sentfunding - over next decade - cost of procuring surface fleet is $54 Billiontoday $43 billion dedicatedComponent of today's announcement - increasing defence spending by $11.1B over decade - including 1.7$B over forward estiamtes so plan is fully forwardingSet aside from past announcements by LNP government as there is REAL money being announced entependiture review committee - with $30B additional defence spending in last years budget - nation's defence spending - to 2.4% of GDP - defence spending under former governmetn would be at 2.1% of GDP - this decision is a significant increase in defence spending in this country - considering increasing strategic complexity

Defence Supply Minister
Will support 3,700 well paid jobs - 1,200 jobs in Perth