SENATOR CAROL BROWN

SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR FAMILIES

AND PAYMENTS
LABOR SENATOR FOR TASMANIA

TASMANIA SNUBBED AGAIN IN NEW DEFENCE CONTRACTS

Tasmanian Labor Senator Carol Brown today said she was bitterly disappointed but not
surprised that Tasmania has again been snubbed in the Turnbull Governments
announcement on the building of up to 21 new Pacific Patrol Boats.
It is a travesty that these new patrol boat contracts have been awarded to prop up more
Liberal MPs interstate.
It is a kick in the teeth for our highly skilled workers.
Tasmania has a world-class reputation for building boats and the skills to fit out our Naval
boats.
Labor declared Prince of Wales Bay a Defence Precinct in 2013 and since then we have
been ignored.
We have lost out on the creation of hundreds of jobs for the maritime industry and much
need job opportunities for young Tasmanians desperate to find work.
The Turnbull Government has again turned its back on Tasmania.

I fear Tasmanian tradesmen will move interstate to work if we do not secure future Defence
contracts.
Todays announcement makes a mockery of Defence Minister Marise Paynes claims that
Tasmania would be in line to get more Defence contracts.
It also leaves the Premier red faced that he was not able to lobby on Tasmanias behalf with
his Liberal colleagues in Canberra.
18 April 2016