Tony Abbott is going to start 2015 exactly how he started 2014, by destroying jobs and breaking his promises.

There are reports today that up to 1400 shipbuilding jobs in Victoria and New South Wales will be lost over the next 12 months because of the Abbott Governments inaction. This is devastating news for these workers, their families and communities.

The closure of the naval shipbuilding yards in Newcastle and Williamstown could and should have been avoided.

Tony Abbott knew exactly what he had to do to bridge the valley of death bring forward work on two supply ships and new patrol boats, implement Labor's Future Submarines Industry and Skills Plan and start the future frigate program.

But because of the recklessness and incompetence of the Abbott Government, as many as 1400 shipbuilders will lose their jobs and livelihoods in the coming months.

Defence manufacturing is a strategically vital Australian industry that supports thousands of workers and protects our national interest.

Before the election, the Coalition promised to build 12 new submarines in Adelaide.

Instead of keeping his word he has sat on his hands, and 1400 Australian workers are paying the price.

Labor had a plan to bridge the valley of death by bringing forward the construction of new supply ships and patrol boats, as well as the future frigates to be built here in Australia.

Instead of taking action to protect these jobs, the Abbott Government has spent months denigrating the skill and professionalism of the workforce.

These manufacturing job losses are on top of the up to 200,000 more job losses in automotive manufacturing still to come as a direct result of this Government's outright hostility to Australian manufacturing.

Its clear that the switch from David Johnston to Kevin Andrews has only increased the chaos and dysfunction on defence policy.

Tony Abbott replaced one failed Minister with another, but he did nothing to protect the 1400 workers who dont deserve to lose their jobs.

The Prime Minister has fundamentally failed to secure a future for naval shipbuilding in Australia, and 1400 workers are now paying the price.