Australia - Federal Opposition refuses to guarantee local design and building for SA submarine project

Collins Class submarine HMAS Waller

Labor has backed a $36 billion submarine project in Adelaide, but the Opposition has doubts about its value. 

SOUTH Australia's part in the $36 billion future submarines project faces growing opposition from the federal Coalition.

 

Opposition defence spokesman David Johnston has refused to guarantee local design or construction should the Coalition win government, and has expressed a preference for the cheaper option of a ready-made fleet.

Treasurer Jack Snelling yesterday wrote to Senator Johnston, asking that he commit to assembling the 12-vessel fleet at the Outer Harbor Techport facility.

The current Collins Class subs will become progressively obsolete in about a decade and many industry analysts have warned a cheap, ready-made fleet will not be able to travel long distances from the Australian shore.

 

Senator Johnston on Wednesday night said he was willing to consider the ready-made option.

"South Australia is absolutely ideally suited with the infrastructure and the technology and the capability it has to service and sustain those submarines. So, it's no question of whether we let the capability die," he said.

"It's a question of what is the most cost-effective way of getting of the best capability for the taxpayer.

"If the Coalition was to think that it's more cost-effective and a better capability to acquire a ready-made solution, we would certainly be interested in that.

"I don't want to see the taxpayer paying $36 billion for 12 unique Australian submarines that are going to cause us the same level of problems that we've had with the Collins."

Polling shows the Liberal Party is likely to win power by November next year.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd promised the subs, to protect the nation and assist with demands of the military alliance with the US, would be assembled in SA.

The state is lobbying for further work in construction and design of a project that rivals Olympic Dam in scale.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith is yet to commit to the type of submarine that will make up the fleet.

Mr Snelling yesterday told State Parliament he had written to Senator Johnston expressing "concern".

"This project would be the largest and most complex defence project ever undertaken by Australia ... and would provide significant job opportunities for SA for decades to come," he said.