SA Liberals pressure Malcolm Turnbull to make submarine announcement before election to ward off voter angst

WORRIED South Australian Liberal MPs are intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to make a Future Submarines announcement before the election.

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WORRIED South Australian Liberal MPs are intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to make a Future Submarines announcement before the election.

But it is possible that SA could go to the polls on July 2 without knowing the Government’s crucial plans for shipbuilding and submarines.

However, the Government could instead choose to announce the results of the competitive evaluation process between France, Germany and Japan, or another aspect of the project.

A decision on the $50 billion project was expected by the end of June, although last week Defence Minister Marise Payne said only that it would be made this year.

“I have consistently said the decision will be made in 2016,” she said last night.

The Government will not make a decision on whether Offshore Patrol Vessels will be built in Adelaide or Western Australia until early next year, while it has promised that the $30 billion Future Frigates will be built here.

When and if Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull calls a double dissolution election on May 11, as he is threatening, the Government will enter caretaker mode. Conventions dictate that no major policy decisions are made in that period unless they are urgent and made in consultation with the Opposition.

What the voters are saying

What the voters are saying

The latest Roy Morgan poll showed a dramatic swing in SA that would result in Labor winning Boothby and Hindmarsh and even threatening Christopher Pyne’s seat of Sturt.

Uncertainty over the future of naval shipbuilding and the submarines along with the job losses at Holden have contributed to that shift.

Several MPs told The Advertiser they were agitating for an announcement as soon as possible. A couple also mooted the possibility of a partial announcement; for example, announcing that a wholly offshore bid was off the table.

Labor has declared that they would build 12 submarines in Adelaide. Opposition defence spokesman Stephen Conroy called on the Government to honour its 2013 promise to do the same.

“We would dismiss the overseas and hybrid options and only go for a local build,” he said.

The White Paper confirmed the Government would buy 12 submarines. It is broadly believed that under former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the number would have dipped to eight.

Andrew Southcott is the outgoing member for Boothby, which is under threat.

“All South Australians would like to see a decision on this and a clear announcement that the 12 regionally superior submarines will be built in SA,” he said yesterday. He will hand over to Nicolle Flint at the election.

Federal Liberal MP Matt Williams

Matt Williams faces an uphill battle against Labor candidate Steve Georganas in Hindmarsh, the state’s most marginal Liberal seat. He has been a vocal advocate for the project.

“I have and will continue to fight for submarines to be built in SA,” he said.

“After the submarines were delayed by the Rudd/Gillard/Rudd Governments, I would like to see an announcement as soon as possible.”

Grey MP Rowan Ramsey said he would like to see an announcement about the submarines before an election, but that he was happy with the process and would not want it cut short.

“If it can be brought forward, well then obviously we’d prefer early rather than later and we’ll pass those sentiments along,” he said.

Defence industry spokesman Chris Burns said he expected Independent Senator Nick Xenophon and Labor would add to the pressure from Government MPs.

“We were expecting an answer before the end of June but if they go into caretaker mode in May than can effectively defer any announcement till after the election,” he said.