Premier Peter Malinauskas seeks assurance that nuclear subs will be built in SA

The Premier has sought assurance from the Federal Government that Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines will be built in SA, after fears they could be made in the US instead.

Australia’s first nuclear-powered submarines could be built in the United States under a plan being considered by the Biden administration.

Australian, American and British officials have discussed the arrangement as a way to deliver some submarines by the middle of next decade, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The two imported vessels would ease concerns about Australian built vessels not being launch ready until 2040, a result of the scrapping of the well-advanced French conventional submarine deal last year.

The federal government had committed to building both the conventional and nuclear submarines in Adelaide.

Premier Peter Malinauskas on Saturday said any scenario that saw South Australia miss out on manufacturing jobs was unacceptable.

“South Australia’s focus is maximising local manufacturing capability,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“The State Government is willing to consider proposals that accelerate local skills development to ensure nuclear submarines are built in Adelaide.

“However we will not accept a scenario which sees South Australia miss out on the submarine manufacturing jobs we have been promised.”

This morning, Mr Malinauskas said he had sought assurance from the Commonwealth that Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines would be built in SA.

Mr Malinauskas said he had been told “without equivocation” that the Federal Government was committed to building the submarines in Adelaide.

“My responsibility is to make sure the Commonwealth keeps its word and honours its promise .. to build nuclear submarines in Adelaide,” Mr Malinauskas told ABC Radio Adelaide.

“Both the federal Coalition and the Labor party went to the May Federal election committing to building nuclear submarines in Adelaide ASAP. And I’ll hold any federal government to account to that promise.”

Former defence minister Peter Dutton said in June that he had “formed a judgment” prior to the May federal election that the US would have been willing to build two of its Virginia-class submarines for Australia by 2030.

His successor in the portfolio, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, described Mr Dutton’s intervention as “rank politics” which would “undermine the AUKUS agreement”.

Australia’s first nuclear-powered submarines could be built in the United States under a plan being considered by the Biden administration. Picture: Getty

But on Saturday, the Wall Street Journal reported the option was one of several on the table to fast-track Australia’s access to a nuclear-powered submarine fleet.

It came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Biden and new UK PM Liz Truss released a statement to mark one year since the AUKUS pact was unveiled, in which they confirmed the three countries had made “significant progress” on the submarine plan.

“We are steadfast in our commitment to Australia acquiring this capability at the earliest possible date,” the leaders said.

Mr Marles revealed this month that Australia would not pursue a “bespoke” design for its nuclear-powered submarines, with the three countries focused on an “optimal pathway” ideally involving a “seamless” industrial base for production.

“It’s very important that as we go forward, the submarine capability that we have is one which is being operated by at least one other country, so that we have a shared sustainment base, and we have a shared experience of that platform,” he said.

US Navy Rear Admiral Scott Pappano had earlier suggested that America’s overstretched shipyards could struggle to help build extra submarines for Australia.

“If we were going to add additional submarine construction to our industrial base, that would be detrimental to us right now,” he said last month.

But with Australia focused on acquiring nuclear submarines as soon as possible, particularly to cover a looming capability gap as its existing fleet nears retirement, the Wall Street Journal reported Australia could contribute billions of dollars to expand America’s production capacity.

James Miller, the US National Security Council’s AUKUS coordinator, said: “We are now intensively working through the details, but there is no doubt we need to have a very close trilateral partnership going forward for many decades.”

A final decision is expected to be made by March next year.