Australian Shipbuilding Federation of Unions demands six conventional subs built in SA starting in 2026

Shipbuilding unions have made ambitious demands for up to six conventional submarines to be built in SA to plug possible gaps in the navy and create thousands of jobs.

Shipbuilding unions believe up to six conventional submarines should be built in Adelaide to plug a dangerous “capability gap” in Australia’s defence and create thousands of jobs, regardless of the cost.

In its inaugural report released on Thursday, the Australian Shipbuilding Federation of Unions (ASFU) asserts the Royal Australian Navy will have a serious gap in its submarine capability when the first of the ageing Collins-class boats retire in 2038.

A fleet of eight nuclear-powered subs to be built in Adelaide under the AUKUS security pact with the US and Britain will not hit the water until the 2040s.

The first of the six Collins-class submarines is due to retire in 2038.

“From a strategic and operational standpoint, the navy could be left with no submarines capable of being deployed, leaving our armed forces with a significant capability gap,” the ASFU says in its report.

“While we wait between two and three decades for a nuclear-powered vessel … our defence capability is weakened, our national security compromised, and jobs are lost.”

The ASFU estimates building up to six conventionally powered submarines would support 4690 shipbuilding and maintenance jobs in SA, and 2010 in Western Australia.

Of that total, 1400 workers would be directly employed at ASC and a further 2170 workers supported in the local supply chain. The ASFU also argues associated consumer spending would lead to an additional 1120 jobs.

Glenn Thompson is the convener of the Australian Shipbuilding Federation of Unions.

“We’re calling for political action now to save critical manufacturing shipbuilding jobs,” ASFU convener Glenn Thompson said.

The nuclear-powered submarine program is mooted to cost more than $90bn, with intentions to build at least eight vessels at Osborne.

The ASFU report did not include a cost estimate of their proposal.

A Defence Department spokeswoman said the Collins-class fleet remained “one of the most capable conventional submarines in the world”.

“The government is investing (up to) $6.4bn in the life-of-type extension of all six Collins-class submarines,” the spokeswoman said, adding the maintenance programs would support more than 1800 jobs in SA and WA.