Mali’s ‘unqualified expectation’ for Adelaide nuclear subs build

The Premier has responded to reports Australia will buy up to five nuclear submarines from the United States in an exclusive interview with The Advertiser.

Premier Peter Malinauskas is declaring his confidence the federal government will honour its “clear commitment” to build nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide, emphasising his “unqualified expectation that the promise is honoured”.

Responding to reports Australia will buy up to five US submarines, Mr Malinauskas said this would plug a capability gap created by ageing Collins class boats and the time to gear up Osborne Naval Shipyard for full-scale construction under the AUKUS security pact.

In an interview with The Advertiser, Mr Malinauskas said he had no reason to believe the federal commitment would not be honoured, despite revelations of the US fleet purchase, and had spoken directly to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese repeatedly about the Adelaide program.

Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead, the head of Defence’s Nuclear-Powered Submarine Taskforce, told The Advertiser on Wednesday there would be “thousands of thousands of job opportunities” in Adelaide from the nuclear-powered submarine construction that would extend for decades.

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles MP, Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas, and Member for Hindmarsh, Mark Butler at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, Adelaide. Picture: David Mariuz

“The federal government has made a clear commitment to the people of South Australia that it will build an AUKUS submarine in Adelaide. It is my unqualified expectation that that promise is honoured,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“We keenly await an announcement from the Prime Minister in the not-too-distant future.”

Mr Albanese on Thursday confirmed he would announce details of the nuclear-powered submarine build under the AUKUS program in San Diego on Monday (US time), alongside President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The Wall Street Journal reported the purchase of up to five US Virginia-class nuclear submarines was intended as a stopgap to provide Australia with capability by the mid-2030s.

Submarine production would later shift to the UK and Australia, the Journal reported, which would produce a submarine with a new design incorporating US technology.

Asked if this report changed his confidence about an Adelaide build, Mr Malinauskas said it did not and insisted it was widely known that the federal government had to plug the capability gap.

“What matters from South Australia’s perspective, and I think from the nation’s perspective, is that we build nuclear submarines here in South Australia, using our own sovereign capability – and that has to happen ASAP,” he said.

Mr Malinauskas said he was confident this would involve constructing the submarines from the ground up in Adelaide.

“All the public reporting suggests that the three nations are seeking to share resources and intellectual property to be able to construct a AUKUS submarine. So the sharing of technology and componentry is to be expected,” he said.

“But, ultimately, our three countries’ security is improved if there is a fourth nuclear submarine production line outside of the US and the UK.

“The AUKUS agreement requires a fourth one to be built and that will be here in Adelaide.”

Mr Malinauskas said prevarication for more than a decade over a replacement for the Adelaide-built Collins class submarine was “regrettable” and had left the nation with a capability gap.

The challenge of finding a large-scale skilled workforce had to be tackled as quickly as possible, he said, declaring this was important economically, industrially and for national security.

“We need the sovereign submarine building capability here in Australia to improve our nation’s security and our autonomy,” he said.

Opposition Leader David Speirs accused the Premier of talking a big game but delivering little.

“The AUKUS deal, initiated by the former federal and state Liberal governments, is critical for South Australia’s future, providing significant job opportunities and economic benefits for our state but also security for our nation,” he said.

“ Peter Malinauskas has talked a big game when it comes to defence but, so far, he has delivered very little.

“The initial AUKUS announcement promised that South Australia would build eight nuclear submarines and this must be delivered.”