Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate, Vice-President of the Executive Council, Minister for Arts and Attorney-General) (14:27): Senator Gallacher, I know Mr Innes Willox; I have a lot of respect for Innes Willox. And I can assure you that, when the government makes its final decision on the next generation of the Australian submarine, Australian industry will be delighted because there is going to be one overriding criterion—Senator Gallacher might be interested to know—in the decision that ultimately we will make and that is what is in the best interests of Australia. And at the moment, as Senator Gallacher, I am sure, is aware, the government is undertaking a competitive evaluation process to select the most appropriate international partner for the construction of the next generation of the Australian submarine. Senator Conroy: You've already voted to give it to Japan! Senator BRANDIS: Now, I hear Senator Stephen Conroy braying at me and pointing his finger at me. Senator Stephen Conroy of course represents the defence portfolio in this chamber. Senator Stephen Conroy has to explain why it was that for six years not a thing was done, not a finger was lifted by the former Labor government, to progress the construction and acquisition of the next generation of the Australian submarine. So after six years— The PRESIDENT: Pause the clock! Senator Moore: Mr President, I rise on a point of order on direct relevance to the question, which is about whether the minister agrees with the comments made by Mr Innes Willox, not whether he knows him. The PRESIDENT: I will remind the minister of the question and advise him that he has 22 seconds in which to answer. Senator BRANDIS: As I said to Senator Gallacher, I know Mr Willox and I have a high regard for Mr Willox and his opinions. Mr Willox will be delighted, because we will make a decision to repair the capability gap, left by the Labor Party, to acquire a next generation Australian submarine in the national interest.