Conroy, Sen Stephen

Senator CONROY (Victoria—Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (14:15): Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer to retired Rear Admiral Peter Briggs who has criticised the government's plans to buy the Japanese Soryu submarine, saying: Proposing that you go and buy an off the shelf submarine with a 6,000 mile range, it’s worse than a waste of money, it’s an illusion. Given that the minister has been caught out misleading the public on a capability timing gap and the cost, do you stand by the government claims that Japanese submarines meet Australia's Defence requirements? (Time expired)