Pledges and affirmations on subs
Labor MPs are signing a pledge and Coalition MPs have joined hands in a press release – both promising to get the best submarines deal for Australia, and South Australia.
Labor’s approach is a pledge to advocate for “all naval ships and submarines to be designed, built and maintained in Australia”.
It’s a big pledge, given we’ve never designed a submarine.
InDaily pointed out two weeks ago that the Collins Class subs built in Adelaide were the fifth generation design of Swedish company Kockums ( a subsidiary of defence company Saab).
The current considerations by the Federal Government revolve around which design will be the basis for the next 12 submarines with defence officials talking to companies in France, Germany and, more recently, Japan.
The Labor pledge to go it alone drew this response from South Australian Coalition MPs Chris Pyne, Jamie Briggs, Tony Pasin, Matt Williams, Andrew Southcott, Rowan Ramsay and Senators Simon Birmingham, Anne Ruston, Cory Bernardi, Sean Edwards and David Fawcett: “This pledge is meaningless.”
“It ignores the involvement of international companies that has been essential for all of Australia’s recent major shipbuilding projects,” the joint statement said.
“The Collins Class Submarine relied upon design by Swedish company Kockums, US combat systems by Rockwell and French power and propulsion by Jeumont Schneider.
“The Air Warfare Destroyer is based on design by Spanish company Navantia and combat systems manufactured by US company Lockheed Martin.
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“International collaboration has long been and will continue to be essential for the acquisition of naval vessels that meet the needs of Australia’s defence forces.
“We will not engage in cheap stunts by signing worthless pledges. Nor will we vilify our international allies and necessary partners in effective procurement.
“However, we will stand up for South Australia and South Australian jobs.”
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