The Leader of the Opposition was condemned in Parliament yesterday for undermining the efforts of the entire State to secure the Full Cycle Docking (FDC) of Collins class submarines – putting hundreds of manufacturing jobs at risk.
With a decision by the Federal Government pending on the relocation of the FCD, Liza Harvey has come out and tried to play politics with ill-founded and inaccurate claims.
The McGowan Government has released two independent reports by Acil Allen and PriceWaterhouseCoopers which found significant strategic and economic benefits of moving this work to Western Australia, including that the move is in the national interest.
In September, the McGowan Government presented a comprehensive Business Case to the Commonwealth Government outlining its substantial commitment to fund the necessary training and infrastructure required for FCD.
As outlined in the business case, the McGowan Government will ensure a mix of experienced workers and highly trained apprentices are available to undertake the work. They will achieve this with the provision of funding support for additional training and enhanced capacity at the South Metropolitan TAFE.
The business case also details the McGowan Government’s commitments to fund infrastructure for FCD. The infrastructure plan has been developed in co-operation with the Federal Government.
Moving FCD to WA is in the national interest. It will reduce pressure on South Australia’s workforce, allowing them the scope to focus on building nine Hunter class frigates and 12 Attack class submarines.
As stated by Defence Issues Minister Paul Papalia:
“Let the record show that this Leader of the Opposition has chosen to advocate for South Australia, over her own State.
“Liza Harvey has made ill-informed and inept claims which undermine the State’s effort to secure the Full Cycle Docking of Collins class submarines – jeopardising hundreds of local jobs.
“The McGowan Government has worked tirelessly for the past 18 months making the case in the national interest by releasing two robust independent reports by Acil Allen and PwC, as and presenting a comprehensive business case to the Commonwealth Government.
“All WA liberals must stand up for their State and advocate for FCD to be moved to WA, not play cheap and lazy politics and undermine WA’s case.
“The fact is, as Deputy Premier in the previous Liberal ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Government, Liza Harvey did nothing to try and secure more defence maintenance work in Western Australia.”
