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| Existing Collins class Submarines |
CAMERON STEWART
THE nation's largest manufacturing union has pleaded with the Gillard government to honour its promise to build the next fleet of submarines in Australia amid fears that Canberra could buy the boats from Europe.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union warned that any move to buy "Ikea-style" submarines from overseas would not help boost the nation's defence, industry and technology base.
"We must not lose the technical ability, skills and industry growth opportunities of making submarines in Australia," AMWU acting secretary Paul Bastian said. "The alternative of buying off-the-shelf, Ikea-style submarines and bolting them together will not build our long-term capability."
The AMWU's warning follows a report released yesterday by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute that said buying small, cheaper European submarines was the only viable way to replace the Collins-class fleet without risking a capability gap.
The slower option of a complex, homemade submarine would mean that these new submarines would not be available until at least 2027.
Read the full story at The Australian