Premier Peter Malinauskas visits BAE Systems Australia Hunter Class frigate workers at Osborne Naval Shipyard

Hundreds of workers at Adelaide’s $45bn frigate project have gathered for a jobs rallying call from Premier Peter Malinauskas. See the incredible pictures.

• The $45bn frigate secret that should have us all concerned

Hundreds of workers on the $45bn Hunter Class frigate project have gathered for a rallying call from Premier Peter Malinauskas, who vowed to lead a fight for their jobs that help keep the country safe and free.

Addressing the BAE Systems Australia workers at Osborne Naval Shipyard on Monday afternoon, an impassioned Mr Malinauskas declared “how bloody proud the state is of all of you … every man and woman that is working on this extraordinary project”.

Acknowledging high-level speculation about the project to build nine frigates being downgraded or relocated to BAE’s Scottish shipyard, Mr Malinauskas told the workers they were “doing something magnificent … in the service of our country”.

Premier Peter Malinauskas with BAE Systems Australia’s managing director maritime Craig Lockhart and staff at the Osborne Naval Shipyard. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

Speaking later to The Advertiser, he again challenged Defence Minister Richard Marles to release a surface fleet review shaping the project’s future, saying the uncertainty was compromising efforts to recruit young people to careers building the frigates and future nuclear-powered submarines.

Acting Senate Leader Don Farrell, also on Monday, appeared to give a guarantee about the Hunter project’s future in Adelaide in response to a Liberal question, despite Defence Minister Richard Marles repeatedly saying he will respond to the surface fleet review early next year.

Mr Malinauskas told the Osborne BAE Systems Australia workers that challenging global times meant it was ever more important that “the federal government equips our men and women in uniform with the tools and equipment they need to keep our country safe, to keep our country free”.

“Know this, that I and the state government and every other South Australian will be fighting for each and every one of your jobs, not just today and tomorrow or next month or next year, but for the decades and generations to come,” he said.

“The pipeline of work here sets our state and our country up for decades and it is only through consistency and continuity can we make sure that the navy has the equipment that they require. So keep up the good work.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas with BAE Systems Australia’s managing director maritime Craig Lockhart and staff at the Osborne Naval Shipyard. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

In federal parliament, Senator Farrell replied: “Yes”, when asked by Liberal Senator David Fawcett if he could “guarantee all nine of the scheduled Hunter class frigates, or any variation to them, will be built in Adelaide”.

Addressing the Osborne workers before Mr Malinauskas, BAE Systems Australia managing director maritime Craig Lockhart said speculation about the Hunter Class project’s future was likely to continue until the surface fleet review’s release.

“Both the Premier and I would like to thank you for your contribution. The performance that you’re delivering in this yard is second-to-none,” he said.

“I think that’s the biggest thing that we could do whilst government deliberates on what the shipbuilding program for Australia is over the next 10 to 20 years.

“So, in some senses, we will have to be patient but, in that time, we will keep delivering the performance that we’re delivering and let that speak for itself.”