Submarine rebuild is a sorry reminder of past mistakes

Thank goodness for Peter Dutton, a minister who will tackle hard issues (“$10bn refit for ageing submarines”, 11/60). The submarine mess has left us more exposed at an increasingly dangerous time. The decision was made by a prime minister in MalcolmTurnbull with a merchant-bank DNA of “Let’s make a deal”, needing Christopher Pyne’s support to keep his leadership. Pyne naturally wanted jobs in South Australia. Couple that with a department without great skills when it comes to big contracts and here we are with no real answer in sight. We could have bought subs with proven technology or in a perfect world the issue might have galvanised serious debate for a bipartisan policy on nuclear energy for the subs and the wider energy mix. Keep going, Mr Dutton; the decisions and the recriminations may be tough but we need you.

John Hill, Willoughby, NSW

Regardless of how one looks at the Collins-class submarine replacement program, it still appears to be yet another meandering, overly expensive and not so well managed Defence major-asset acquisition. However, some confidence is restored when a clear and somewhat logical submarine replacement plan is published.

Since Peter Dutton has taken control of the Defence portfolio he has demonstrated a clarity of purpose that has not been evident in most of his predecessors. This is confidence-building for not only the ADF at large, but also the taxpayer who ultimately has to foot the bill. No doubt there are many hurdles ahead in this complex program and some lingering doubt that the French boat is in fact the right solution. However, Minister Dutton’s stewardship of Defence will go a long way to produce what is the best possible outcome for the RAN and the nation.

Tom Moylan, Melbourne

The decision to completely rebuild Australia’s Collins-class submarines is costly, full of complexity and may well overrun its deadlines, making the boats’ operational life too short. An alternative might be to switch from building all 12 boats in Adelaide to having simultaneous construction in both Adelaide and a French yard. This would result in the final pair being completed in half the total time. One problem with the submarine project has been that it was treated as a make-work project for South Australians instead of primarily delivery of a vital element in our national security. Indeed, building half as many submarines here should not mean any loss of jobs because as soon as the local six were completed there would surely be orders for surface ships to be built.

David Williams, Wynn Vale, SA

Rather than tearing up $10bn on antique submarines why don’t we lease or borrow six to 10 submarines from the US? It has about 80 and you can bet a number of them will be in mothballs, so available. And they will be only a generation behind. We’d be helping them and they’d be helping us. This is what allies are for.

Paul Everingham, Hamilton, Qld

Why on earth are we to spend $10bn to rebuild submarines that were substandard to begin with? We can buy perfectly capable submarines from our greatest ally, America, for less than that, or for the same cost we can have more than six ships. What is the problem here? Oh, silly me. These ships operate using nuclear power, which makes them able to run silent, and to stay at sea for much greater periods than the already outdated French ships.

Colin White, Port Hedland, WA

It is amazing how Germany built 1162 U-boats in six years of war, or 3.7 subs a week. And how 70 to 80 years later we cannot refit six boats in 12 years, let alone build them.

Tony Mitchell, Melbourne

Rewind to June 2017 when, at the invitation of the Centre for Independent Studies, then backbencher Tony Abbott penned yet another high-calibre speech. He talked about how the Collins would need to be upgraded and modernised, and canvassed plan B options should the government’s commitment to the redesign of nuclear submarines to run on diesel start to take on water. He was unfairly rebuked for speaking up by then defence minister Marise Payne, who said there’s no “I” in “team”. Fast forward to now and the vanquished Abbott will remain vindicated on a range of topics. And good on the pragmatic Peter Dutton who, like Abbott, gets Team Australia, deep down where they live.

Mandy Macmillan, Singleton, NSW