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| Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) Current Collins class Submarine |
THE HON DAVID FEENEY MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE CENTENARY OF ANZAC
SHADOW MINISTER FOR JUSTICE
MEMBER FOR BATMAN
MEDIA RELEASE
Answers to questions on notice from November Senate Estimates have confirmed Australia can build our Future Submarines at a competitive price, with the Australian Submarine Corporation advising it could build Australia’s Future Submarines for approximately $24 billion for 12 submarines.
In seeking to justify its broken promise on submarines, the Abbott Government has falsely claimed that Australian shipyards are too expensive and inefficient.
Representatives from ASC were asked during Senate Estimates by Senator Penny Wong for the cost range of construction of twevle 4,000 tonne submarines.
Before representatives of ASC were able to answer, Liberal Senator Mathias Cormann cut the representatives off, and took the Question on Notice.
Responses received this past week from ASC have confirmed that they are able to supply Australia’s Future Submarines for $24billion.
ASC has recently been exceeding the Australian Defence Forces’ (ADF) target for submarine availability by 18 per cent, with availability running at 90 per cent, a figure which we know has continued to improve.
Experts have told the Senate our shipyards are capable of building these submarines in Australia while providing value for money for taxpayers, yet they were continually ignored.
All arguments from the Abbott Government that Australia is unable to build these submarines have been blown out of the water.
With overwhelming evidence from experts and now a cost projection from ASC, it is time for the Abbott Government to recommit to building our future submarines in Australia and call for a competitive tender.
Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence, David Feeney, has said;
“Evidence given at the inquiry has systematically destroyed every single Government argument about why we shouldn’t have a competitive tender for this incredibly important project.”
“It is time the Abbott Government read the answers, and kept its promise to build our new submarines in Australia”.
New Defence Minister Kevin Andrews needs to read the answers and the numbers ASC has provided, and start to provide reassurance to Australian jobs and industry, by calling for a competitive tender.