Turnbull dismisses “sniping” at Payne over DCNS meeting bid
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is standing by his defence minister after her partner sought a meeting with the French company awarded Australia’s Future Submarine contract.
Malcolm Turnbull at yesterday's subs announcement, flanked by Marise Payne. Photo: Ben Macmahon, AAP.
Stuart Ayres, the NSW trade minister, tried to meet with DCNS last week while in France but there was a scheduling clash.
Defence Minister Marise Payne denies approaching Defence to line up the meeting, with Turnbull telling ABC radio today he “of course” accepts her explanation.
“I’m not going to entertain this sort of sniping at Marise Payne,” he said, praising her professionalism.
Senator Payne insists there was no way she approached or engaged with Defence about the meeting.
It was part of a series of meetings any trade minister from Australia would endeavour to have with participants in the process to pick a submarines builder, she told ABC TV last night.
“The meeting didn’t proceed, I understand from his statement, due to times not merging with the appropriate program that he had.”
Ayres has confirmed he sought a meeting with DCNS while he was in Europe last week.
“I sought a meeting with DCNS whilst on a trade mission to Germany, UK and France last week. Unfortunately because schedules did not align a meeting never took place,” Ayres said in a statement.
He said he had engaged in a range of similar meetings since taking office.
Since becoming trade minister, he had been briefed by Japanese government, defence and industry representatives, and also German industry representatives to promote NSW industry opportunities as part of the competitive evaluation process.
“I congratulate DCNS on winning the bid and look forward to discussing with them opportunities for NSW businesses to participate in the future submarine program.”
Victoria’s Trade Minister Philip Dalidakis did not meet, or seek to meet, with anyone from DCNS, his spokeswoman confirmed.
However, Victorian Industry Minister Lily D’Ambrosio issued a statement congratulating the French company on being selected to build Australia’s new submarine fleet.
The industry minister noted she’d “held talks with DCNS prior to the announcement about Victoria’s potential involvement in the future submarine program which would create hundreds of local jobs”.
-AAP
