Australia's submarine industry has been given a much needed boost, with confirmation in the Defence White Paper that the Government will order 12 new vessels as part of its future submarine program.

Key points:

• Government yet to announce who will build submarines and where
• Japan, Germany and France vie for contract
• Government pledges to keep as much work as possible in Adelaide

 

But the much-delayed decision on who will build the subs, and where, will not be made until the middle of the year.

Japan is seen as the front-runner to win the $50 billion contract and the Turnbull Government has pledged to keep as much work in Adelaide as it can.

But some argue the issue is being driven far too much by South Australian politics, instead of value for taxpayer money.

"It's been a very convoluted, a very delayed and a very inefficient process," said Simon Cowan, a director at the Centre for Independent Studies.

"We are still basically at the starting point - we haven't got a firm bidding process sorted out, we haven't got a firm decision in mind and we don't have a date for making those things."

A proposal for a new submarine fleet was floated in the Rudd government's Defence White Paper in 2009.

 

read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-25/submarine-industry-boost-announcement-12-new-vessels/7198838

Thousands of protesters have assembled in central London for Britain’s biggest anti-nuclear weapons rally in a generation.

Campaigners gathered from across the world: some said they had travelled from Australia to protest against the renewal of Trident. Others had come from the west coast of Scotland, where Britain’s nuclear deterrent submarines are based.

As the huge column of people began moving from Marble Arch after 1pm, the mood was buoyant and spirited despite the cold.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/27/cnd-rally-anti-nuclear-demonstration-trident-london

Live: Prime Minister confirms investigation into leak of classified defence documents

Malcolm Turnbull has told Question Time the head of the Defence Department is investigating the leaking of classified information about the submarine tendering process.

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-02/abc-federal-politics-live-blog-march-2/7212932

Japan's avowed intention to put high-tech lithium ion batteries in the replacement fleet for the Collins Class submarines could put Australian navy personnel at physical risk, the rival French bid has said in a dramatic escalation of the public battle for the $50 billion contract.

Signalling the gloves are well and truly off in the three-way contest between France, Japan and Germany, the French shipbuilder DCNS has also warned Australia that it would be taking on Japan's strategic baggage if it tightens its relationship with China's historic rival through a submarine deal.

The firm has even raised the spectre of Australia's being dragged into a future conflict between the north Asian giants if it becomes wedded to Japan through any submarine deal.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/claims-australian-navy-will-be-at-risk-from-exploding-batteries-if-subs-built-by-japanese-20160317-gnlqyg.html#ixzz43EiT9qDn
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook

 

 

• Abbott's submarine grenade-throwing angers Libs

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has hinted that a local build for Australia's new submarine fleet could be viable.

In a 3700-word essay published in the Quadrant magazine over the weekend, Mr Abbott acknowledged that, while there was sense in a Japanese partnership, the priority was always the best possible submarine for the best possible price.

His government initiated a competitive evaluation process.

The Japanese bid is facing competition from French and German firms.

"As this process has unfolded, it's became apparent that overseas [shipyard] capacity restrictions could make a local build the most viable option after all," Mr Abbott wrote.

It's unclear when the Turnbull government will announce the winning tender.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australian-construction-of-submarines-could-be-viable-abbott-20160327-gns20v.html#ixzz449grxh6r
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook

Considering that Tony's ministries tried to sink any deals in Adelaide, Tony's torpedo is a very very very late wet petard...

 

The decision to build patrol boats in Adelaide and Western Australia is "bloody stupid", Federal Government backbencher Warren Entsch has said.

Key points:

• Queensland MP Warren Entsch had been lobbying for the boats to be built in Cairns
• Questions whether successful bidder is up to the job
• Disputes Cairns proposal was 60 per cent more expensive

 

Mr Turnbull announced the $3 billion program would create 400 direct jobs in the two regions when he revealed the successful bidders on Monday afternoon.

But Mr Entsch blasted the Defence Minister's staff and complained directly to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about the issue.

Mr Entsch, the Member for Leichhardt in Far North Queensland, had been lobbying for the boats to be built in Cairns.

"I don't support the decision — quite frankly I think it was bloody stupid," he said.

"I'm not going to just step down and accept it and just be a noddy in the background trying to justify what I see as a bad decision."

Mr Entsch also told the ABC he was "furious" about the way the announcement was handled.

"The fact that I had to be told by the proponents of the unsuccessful bidders that they'd missed out before the [Defence] Minister [Senator Marise Payne] had the courtesy of getting [her] staff to come down and speak to me," he said.

"I gave them short shift in no uncertain terms."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-18/patrol-boats-building-decision-bloody-stupid-mp-warren-entsch/7336386