Future Submarine project head Rear Admiral Gregory Sammut tells parliamentary inquiry future subs may not use Australian steel
DEFENCE officials are refusing to guarantee the hulls of the nation’s new submarines will be built with Australian steel.
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DEFENCE officials are refusing to guarantee the hulls of the nation’s new submarines will be built with Australian steel.
The Collins Class submarines were constructed using custom-made Australian steel but a parliamentary inquiry has been told it is unclear whether local steel will meet the standards required for the French-designed Future Submarines.
Future Submarine project head Rear Admiral Gregory Sammut told the inquiry that between 9000 and 15,000 tonnes of steel would be used to build the hulls of the dozen new submarines.
“It’s important that we use steel of a specification that France currently uses to design its submarines because that’s matched to their design process,’’ Rear Admiral Sammut said.
“It’s very specialised steel — it’s not really used for anything else. It’s used for submarine hull construction. And again, the volume is not that great.’’
SA Liberal Senator David Fawcett told the committee that the Collins boats had been built using Australian steel which set the world standard.
Senator Fawcett said Australian steel products could be designed especially for the environment the submarines would operate in.
“The real potential is there for navy to get better value for money with a steel that meets French design requirements but is best adapted to Australia’s environment,’’ he said.
The submarines are being designed by French company DCNS.
DCNS Australia chief operating officer Brent Clark told the inquiry the company and the Defence Department had discussions with local steelmakers and would prepare a business case for the government on the use of local steel.
Whyalla-based Arrium — which is currently in administration — could potentially produce some of the steel for the submarines.
Government officials at the inquiry played down the chances of the French cancelling the submarine contract if far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is elected French president this year.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade assistant secretary Andrew Todd said the election of the pro-Russian Ms Le Pen would not necessarily create problems for the submarine deal.
“Ms Le Pen does have a close association, policy-wise, with Russia. How that would play out in foreign policy would require her to be elected,’’ Mr Todd said.
“Then we all know that after elections, things can and do change.’’
Mr Clark said he was not aware what views — if any — Ms Le Pen held on the submarine agreement with Australia. But all of the other major presidential candidates had backed the submarine contract.
“I know that their view is of one: that project will proceed,’’ he said.
The inquiry has been also told that Western Australia’s new Labor government wants to launch a raid on South Australian submarine and shipbuilding jobs as it seeks to bridge its own “Valley of Death’’.
A WA Labor submission to the inquiry suggested that “part or the entire future submarine build” be shifted to the west.