Time to sell shipbuilder ASC: Bernardi

Liberal senator Cory Bernardi says now the government has guaranteed the future of shipbuilding it should sell off ASC.

The national commission of audit recommended selling ASC - the government-owned shipbuilder - but the government has said it has no plans to do so.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Tuesday announced a $40 billion, 20-year continuous naval ship-building program involving ASC.

Senator Bernardi, who represents SA, said ASC was now a "very attractive asset" and should be sold.

"As a backbencher I'm in the business of the battle of ideas and this is a good idea I reckon," Senator Bernardi told Sky News on Wednesday.