Osborne planning map sparks speculation SA will keep Full Cycle Docking contract

There is fresh speculation SA may have won its fight with WA over 700 submarine maintenance jobs.

Full cycle docking for Collins Class submarines may stay in South Australia. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright

A new planning map for Adelaide’s shipyard is fuelling speculation South Australia may keep a lucrative submarine maintenance contract which involves 700 jobs.

The Federal Government has yet to make a decision on whether full cycle docking for the Collins Class submarines will stay in SA or move to Western Australia.

But a new design for the layout of Osborne shipyard now includes a site for building the $89bn Future Submarines that isn’t on top of the location for full-cycle docking (FCD).

A previous design, obtained through a Freedom of Information request by Senator Rex Patrick, showed the Future Submarines site partially on the FCD location.

In the new layout for the coming “phase 2” construction works to upgrade the shipyard, the area to transfer the Future Submarines to the sea now goes around the Collins Class maintenance site.

A new layout design for Osborne shipyard is fuelling speculation full cycle docking may stay in South Australia. Picture: Australian Naval Infrastructure

The design was included in documents provided to Federal Parliament by Australian Naval Infrastructure after a request from Senator Patrick.

Senator Patrick, pictured, said it indicated a decision had already been made but the Federal Government was “intent on keeping everyone in the dark”.

“I suspect the announcement is being held off until after the WA election,” he said.

“It’s politics before national security and it’s politics before SA workers, their families and those in the submarine supply chain.

“The government needs to announce the decision and allow everyone to get on with it.”

A Defence Department spokesman said: “No decision has been made on the future location for Collins Class full cycle docking.

“Options to ensure we can sustain the Collins class fleet while delivering the Attack class fleet continue to be considered and a decision will be made by government in due course,” he said.

Rex Patrick during Question Time in the Senate. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas

“Design of the submarine construction yard is progressing to ensure we establish a world-class facility to support the effective and efficient construction of the Attack class fleet in Australia.

“This work is independent of the decision government is yet to make in relation to the future location for Collins full cycle docking.”

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds initially said a decision on FCD would be announced by December 2019, but no new date has been set.

Political sources believe SA is likely to keep the subs maintenance contract, after the economic situation changed during COVID-19.