Defence Minister Richard Marles explains during Question Time on Monday how the announcement of the Sovereign Submarine Build Partner benefits Australia.
He claimed it would be one of the “biggest industrial undertakings” in Australia’s history after ASC and BAE Systems were selected to build the AUKUS submarines.
“The government announced the sovereign submarine partnership which will see a joint venture established between ASC and BAE to build Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide,” he said.
“At its peak, we will see 4-5,000 people engaged on the construction of those submarines.
“It is a unique arrangement which is designed to maximise the presence of ASC and with it the voice of the Australian government and of course the Australian people in this project.”
who shall hear from the member for Spence.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister.
How is the Albanese Labor government
progressing the delivery of Orcas submarines,
and how does this compare to other approaches?
I call to the Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister for Defence.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker,
and can I thank the member for his question,
acknowledge his service.
On Friday, along with the US and the UK,
the government announced
the Sovereign Submarine Partnership,
which will see a joint venture established
between ASC and BAE
to build Australia's future nuclear-powered submarines
at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide.
Now, this will be one of the biggest
industrial undertakings in our country's history.
At its peak, we will see 4,000 to 5,000 people
engaged on the construction of those submarines.
And it is a unique arrangement,
which is designed to maximise the presence of ASC,
and with it, the voice of the Australian government
and, of course, the Australian people in this project.
ASC has also been appointed to sustain submarines
in Western Australia
as part of the Submarine Rotational Force West.
Now, over through to the 2050s,
it is expected that $30 billion will be spent
on uplifting Australia's industrial base
to enable this to happen.
There is also a commitment of 2.4 billion pounds
over the next 10 years
to expand the Rolls-Royce facility in Derby in the UK,
which is where the nuclear reactors will be built
for Australia's future submarines.
And already, there are parts being fabricated there,
which will find their way on
to the very first of those submarines,
which will be rolling off the production line
at Osborne in the early 2040s.
Now, this is a really positive announcement,
which is demonstrating once again
that AUKUS is happening and progressing well.
But as usual, those opposite cannot avoid playing politics.
Now, to be clear, all the money that has been described
over the course of the last few days
is fully provided for in the allocation,
which was part of the original AUKUS announcement last year.
This government is increasing defence spending
to 2.4% of GDP over the course of the next 10 years.
By contrast, the position of those opposite
is to limit defence spending to 2.1% of GDP.
So they cannot be taken seriously
on the question of spending on defence
when their position is to cut tens of billions of dollars
from the defence budget.
While they are spitting their wheels,
we've got our shoulder to the wheel
to deliver Australia's future nuclear-powered submarines
to keep Australians safe.
