Deputy PM recasts Labor as 'the party of defence'

The deputy prime minister has attempted to stake Labor's claim as the historic party of national security in a full-throated defence of AUKUS.

Speaking at WA Labor's state conference in Fremantle, defence minister Richard Marles claimed security was "an innately Labor issue", after years of polling showing the party was viewed as weak on defence.

But Mr Marles pointed to the achievements of a succession of Labor prime ministers.

"Defence goes to the very heart of the sovereignty of our nation and Labor has always been a party of the Australian project. And so Labor is the party of defence," he said.

"It was the Fisher Labor government which established the Royal Australian Navy. It was John Curtin who prepared our country for its greatest hour. It was a World War II veteran, Gough Whit