Opposition Leader David Crisafulli asks Prime Minister for detail on Brisbane submarine base

With the Premier remaining silent on her support for a multi-billion dollar submarine base in Brisbane, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has taken matters into his own hands.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has asked the Prime Minister for more information about his nuclear submarine proposal, claiming the Premier’s refusal to do so was “petty and belligerent”.

Annastacia Palaszczuk on Friday refused to say whether she shared the view of her union regarding the potential submarine base in Brisbane, instead insisting it was Scott Morrison’s decision.

The Courier-Mail on Friday revealed the Australian Workers’ Union supported the proposed base but Queensland Branch state secretary Steve Baker said that was on the condition it would create ongoing jobs and he said he wanted to see more detail.

Asked whether she shared this view, the Premier said her government supported jobs.

“But let me say this about that proposal, it is a defence issue,” she said.

“It is a matter for Scott Morrison, Scott Morrison looks after defence.

“It is his decision and his decision alone.”

Pressed further on whether she supported the project on the condition it would create secure jobs, Ms Palaszczuk said, “I am not the Defence Minister and I’m not the Prime Minister”.

The Federal Government this week short-listed Brisbane, Port Kembla and Newcastle for a new east-coast base that is estimated to cost more than $10bn.

The project however is years away and Mr Morrison has conceded there were logistic and technical issues with all three proposed sites.

But Ms Palaszczuk has dodged questions about whether she supported the proposal this week and neither she or Mr Morrison discussed it when they spoke by phone on Thursday.

Mr Crisafulli said he requested information from Mr Morrison in a phone call on Thursday while claiming the Premier’s refusal to seek further detail was “petty and belligerent”.

“Regardless of her view about it, she owes it to every Queenslander, and to anyone who believes in politicians working across political divides, to sit down and talk about it,” he said.

But a spokesman for the Premier hit back, saying Ms Palaszczuk had been clear for days that the Prime Minister needed to provide more information about his own proposal.

“It’s surprising the Leader of the Opposition missed that,” he said.