Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia—Minister for Finance, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:42): No, I cannot confirm that, because I certainly do not accept some of the statements made in the senator's question. This government has taken strong action to ensure that our defence forces will have the capability they require for the future—in particular, the naval capability they will require for the future. In seeking to deliver that naval capability, including future submarines, this government has also committed very significantly to ensure we build sovereign defence industry capability in this country as well. The actions that we have taken stand in stark contrast to the inaction of those asking the questions in this regard. As a government, we have taken serious action to make sure that we commission the building of new defence infrastructure, new defence assets, new naval assets in this country, including future frigates and future submarines. We've done so in contrast to those opposite, who commissioned not one new Australian-built naval vessel. Our commitment is to make sure that these projects are delivered—delivered according to the time lines that have been announced, delivered according to the commitments around Australian industry capability. And our focus will be on ensuring, in that delivery, that we secure the value for money— Senator Wong: Which you still haven't delivered on. Senator BIRMINGHAM: I hear Senator Wong say, 'That you still haven't delivered on,' as though somehow they were going to be built yesterday. Well, they would have been built a lot sooner if those opposite had actually commissioned any of them, if they'd actually made any types of decisions in that regard. We have made the decisions to do them. We have made the decisions to build these things, Senator Wong. We have made the decisions that you failed to make. We have made sure that we have made those decisions. We have signed those contracts. There is indeed, on the future frigates, steel being cut, work happening, work underway. Under your lot, you couldn't even make the decision to do it in the first place. We have the work commencing. Senator Wong interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Wong. Senator Gallacher is on his feet and he has the call.