Coalition promises $1 billion for new navy ships

Scott Morrison is promising $1 billion to build three naval ships in Western Australia if the coalition wins the election as well as money for cyber-security.

Scott Morrison

PM Scott Morrison will promise $1 billion to build three naval ships in Western Australia. (AAP)

Three new navy ships will be built in Western Australia under a coalition government in a $1 billion election commitment set to create 1000 jobs.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will announce the promise to build two mine warfare support vessels and a hydrographic vessel in Perth on Monday.

He will also unveil a $156 million package to protect Australians from cyber-security attacks, and another $300 million to build or expand park-and-ride facilities in Melbourne.

Mr Morrison said the Australian Defence Force would continue to receive record funding to keep Australians safe.

"This commitment in West Australia adds to the 31 minor war vessels already being built in the state - built in Australia, by Australian workers, with Australian steel," he said.

"In stark contrast to Labor, who committed to build no naval vessels in Australia.

"We're backing the West with our commitment to make WA a home of continuous naval shipbuilding in Australia and the Henderson precinct is crucial to Australia's defence capability."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison greets Navy personnel onboard HMAS Brisbane in Sydney, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison greets Navy personnel onboard HMAS Brisbane in Sydney, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Source: AAP
The $1 billion commitment will see the replacement of the Huon-class mine hunters brought forward from the 2030s to the mid-2020s.

A hydrographic military survey vessel will start construction in the early 2020s, also at Henderson.

The coalition will also commit $300 million to bust congestion on Melbourne's roads by taking 13,000 cars off the road each day in key growth corridors.

Park-and-ride facilities at 30 train stations, across seven train lines, will be built or expanded, increasing commuter car parking capacity in the fastest growing areas in the nation.

"These projects will ease access to public transport, take thousands of cars off the road, bust congestion and see Melburnians spend less time in traffic and more time with their family and friends," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.
The coalition is also promising $156 million to protect older Australians, small businesses and national security assets from cyber-attacks.

Mr Morrison said cybercrime costs the Australian economy more than $1 billion annually.

As part of the commitment the coalition will spend $50 million on a cyber security national workforce growth program to create the workers needed in the future.

Mr Morrison will campaign in Henderson, in Labor MP Josh Wilson's seat of Fremantle, before debating Labor leader Bill Shorten on Monday night in Perth.

It will be the first debate between the two leaders, with a second scheduled for Friday in Brisbane. The coalition is pushing for a third debate.


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Coalition promises $1 billion for new navy ships | SBS News