The federal government is planning to build nine frigates and 12 offshore patrol vessels and is looking to involve Australian companies.

A roadshow outlining this is now touring the country but the Illawarra, home of one of the country’s key steelmakers, wasn’t on the itinerary released this month.

But a spokeswoman for Defence Minister Christopher Pyne said the Illawarra would be part of the next phase of the roadshow.

“The Turnbull Government has committed to using Australian steel to build Australia's future warships,” the spokeswoman said.

“Regarding upcoming future frigate roadshows, it is expected that there will be a series of roadshows in regional industrial centres in the new year.

“Currently there is one planned for the Illawarra region in February. Further details will be announced closer to the date.”

The first stop is in Brisbane and the roadshow will stop in Sydney on December 9.

“The purpose of the future frigate roadshows is to facilitate the development of a national shipbuilding supply chain to support the Turnbull government's ambition to create a long-term, sustainable continuous naval shipbuilding industry,” the spokeswoman for Minister Pyne said.

“This will create thousands of jobs, and sustain many thousands more. The roadshows themselves involve a briefing from key defence officials on two major shipbuilding projects, the Offshore Patrol Vessels  – which will start being built in 2018 – and Australia's Future Frigates – which will start being built in 2020.”