With two ministers from Western Australia - Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, with him - the Prime Minister was at the BAE Systems hangar that was the scene for the ceremony for about 90 minutes, before he departed to the RAAF officers' mess for a lunch to mark the 80^th anniversary of RAAF Williamtown next Monday.

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After lunch, Mr Morrison went to the Hunter Valley Training Company at Rutherford, where he spent about 45 minutes touring the group training company's skills centre and meeting apprentices and their trainers.

Training company chief executive Sharon Smith said the PM met some of this year's intake who started their apprenticeship with the help of a government wage subsidy.

"We were pleased to showcase our state-of-the-art training facility, where apprentices are learning core hands on skills that will benefit their careers both now and in the future," Ms Smith said.

The main focus, however, was at Williamtown, where F-35As roared across the skies on repeated runs before Mr Morrison arrived, and then put on a deafening display of aeronautics for the assembled guests, including one vertical ascent that saw the jet and its open red exhaust disappear into the clouds.

After an official welcome to country by Worimi elder John Ridgeway, the speakers included the PM, the two ministers and BAE figures including chief executive Gabrielle Costigan, with an emphasis on the job creation and economic benefits to the Hunter Region of an aircraft that the RAAF expects to have in service for the next half century, updated along the way as technology improves.

"We welcome the first F-35 aircraft here today at BAE systems Australia's hanger and the most exciting this about this is this is the beginning of a 50 year journey that is going to bring hundreds of jobs to the region and further boost and help the local economy, but also provide skilled jobs and opportunities for exports for our nation," Ms Costigan said.

Taking questions with Senator Reynolds and Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, Mr Morrison presented as a leader confident of his position within the Liberal Party, and knowing that Australia's success in keeping COVID-19 at bay can only increase the country's international standing.

"Our focus is on the jobs of people here in the Hunter, just like it is of people in regional Australia and right across our nation," Mr Morrison said.

"You know, 90 percent of the jobs we've lost through COVID have come back already by the end of last year, and we're seeing the Australian economy continue to step up as we step out of the COVID-19 recession. And that is what we're focused on.

"That, the vaccine rollout, continuing to ensure our economic recovery plan gets the results that it is getting to guarantee those essential services that I know people in the Hunter here depend on."

Air Marshal Hupfeld said the RAAF and the officers who flew the plane had total confidence in it. He said concerns over the Lockheed-Martin designed fighter were no different in scale to those facing any new jet.

"The problems are the ones that you read about in the commentary," Air Marshal Hupfeld said.

"The stuff that you don't see is what we see at the classified level, and the level of capability our pilots get to operate. They're the ones who know the system the best. They are very confident in the aircraft and they know what it can do and what it's able to do with our overall joint force. No doubts at all."

Security was tight at BAE in case of protests but the day went off without incident.

Last night the PM attended a fundraiser at the Newcastle Club for Liberal hopeful, solicitor Brooke Vitnell, who hopes to wrest Paterson from Labor's Meryl Swanson.

Hunter Workers, the region's peak union body, issued a statement during the PM's visit, saying the government was using COVID as a smokescreen to cut the wages and conditions of working Australians.

"It's disappointing that part of the Prime Minister's Visit to Newcastle includes attending an expensive Liberal Party fundraiser while the region faces significant challenges getting to the other side of a recession that many are calling 'the pink recession'," Hunter Workers head Leigh Shears said in the statement.

"Women were at the front lines of the jobs hit by the virus, making up a larger proportion employed in retail, healthcare, childcare, education, hospitality and food service industries.

"Sectors of the economy that are both heavily reliant on casual workers and likely to be hit hard by the restrictions, business closure's and economic disruption.

"Again, Scotty from Marketing demonstrates he's just doesn't get it.

State member for Port Stephens Kate Washington also criticised the fundraiser, saying: "If you can afford $10,000 to sit down and have a chat with the Prime Minister, good luck to you.

"But I can tell you, the real issues facing our region have nothing to do with millionaires.What kind of message does it send to our community?

"If you're super rich, the Prime Minister will share a bottle of wine and listen to your concerns. But if you're an ordinary Aussie, you're left out on the street.

"This tells you everything you need to know about Scott Morrison and the Hunter Liberals.

"They're not on our side."

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