$45bn frigate shipbuilder BAE Systems Australia vows never to turn back on SA workers

The head of the $45bn project to build nine frigates in Adelaide has dismissed high-level speculation about the program’s future.

Speculation about the $45bn Hunter Class frigate construction shifting from Adelaide to Scotland has been dismissed as nonsensical and absurd by the shipbuilder, BAE Systems Australia.

In an Advertiser opinion piece, BAE Systems Australia managing director maritime Craig Lockhart said the rumour about shifting production from Osborne Naval Shipyard to Glasgow and cutting the number of ships from nine to four was “not only unfounded but also hazardous”.

CRAIG LOCKHART: Glasgow claims are dangerous nonsense

He declared: “We will never turn our backs on SA workers.”

The Advertiser on Wednesday revealed high-level speculation suggesting BAE Systems would built the frigates at its Govan shipyard in Glasgow, where the defence firm is building the Type 26 frigates on which the Hunter design is based

A rendering of a Hunter Class Frigate.

“The federal government has publicly stated its commitment to continuous naval

shipbuilding and we are a major partner in that endeavour,” Mr Lockhart said.

“The unnamed source of this rumour must understand the terrible effect it has on the morale and mental wellbeing of the more than 1500 Aussie workers, proudly building the world’s most advanced anti-submarine warfare frigate.

“I say this as a proud Scotsman – albeit one who now proudly calls Australia home – the

suggestion that a decision as nonsensical as shifting production of a program the scale of Hunter to Scotland would ever be considered is, quite frankly, absurd.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE/Emma Brasier

Premier Peter Malinauskas has vowed he will hold the federal government to account over its commitment to construct the frigates in Adelaide – and reiterated that abandonment of the program would lead to another “valley of death”.

But he says he has not been able to seek assurances from Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles since The Advertiser’s report because Mr Marles is overseas.

Mr Malinauskas said the Commonwealth had made “a very clear commitment” to the people of South Australia that a continuous service ship build would be based at Osborne.

“I have no reason to believe that there is any departure from that policy,” he said.

“It is our expectation, as we have submitted to the federal government both formally and informally, that the Commonwealth announce its response to the 90-day review and commit to that program down at Osborne continuing forthwith.”

The Liberals called for Deputy Premier Susan Close to be stripped of her Defence and Space Industries portfolio and for Mr Malinauskas to assume responsibility, accusing her of inability to do the job.

But Mr Malinauskas called the suggestion “reckless and irresponsible” and said he and Dr Close had been working side-by-side to protect the state’s interests.

The state’s most senior federal Liberal, Opposition Senate Leader Simon Birmingham, highlighted Defence officials’ refusal on October 25 to commit to the Hunter Class project’s future – beyond reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding.