Malinauskas on AUKUS subs review: ‘bring it on’

The SA Premier says one silver lining from the Trump administration’s review of AUKUS is that a ­successful outcome would end any doubt on the future of the ­defence pact.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas at Defending Australia 2025 at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / David Beach

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South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas says Donald Trump’s review of AUKUS could make the future of the program more secure, while declaring the need for locally made submarines would remain if the US walks away from key aspects of the pact.

With nuclear submarines ­slated to be built at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide, Mr Malinauskas said AUKUS was an “absolutely necessary ­national pursuit”.

He said one silver lining from the Trump administration’s review of AUKUS was that a ­successful outcome would end any doubt on the future of the ­defence pact.

“If the AUKUS partnership survives this review, as I fully ­expect it will, it will mark a significant achievement,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“All three partner nations will have changed leaders and governments since the original agreement was signed, and the program will clear reviews subsequent to all these changes of government.

“That alone will allow us to now execute with confidence.

“We should not fear, nor should we resist, the review of AUKUS. This is an intergenerational ­initiative of immense cost and consequence.”

Former ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, said the review would likely examine real concerns within Washington over its ability to provide Australia with three Virginia-class submarines in the early 2030s.

But Mr Malinauskas said Australian-made submarines would be needed in the “worst-case scenario” of the US walking away from this part of the agreement.

“That outcome will only demonstrate in itself what every self-respecting analyst already knows: we have to build submarines for ourselves,” he said.

“No amount of examination would change the imperative for our federation. This project must get done.”

Mr Malinauskas said it would be “impossible” for Australia to ­acquire the submarines it needed.

“Australia is going to build submarines,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“It defies rational comprehension that any Australian government of any political persuasion, now or in the foreseeable future, could conclude otherwise.

“We are an island continent with a small population, situated squarely in the world’s fastest-growing region.

“We require a sophisticated and advanced submarine capability. Any alternative to Australia building its own submarines would leave us with none at all.”

Mr Hockey said Anthony ­Albanese should offer to send Australian workers to the US to help build Virginia-class submarines, to ensure there are no changes to the pact.

“In the United States, there is great anxiety about the fact they’re not producing enough Virginia-class submarines,” he said. “So our solution isn’t to say, ‘OK, we’re going to take them off you’.

“Our solution has to be, ­actually, ‘we’re going to help you build them’.”

“Don’t just say: ‘Oh, we’re going to send you these critical minerals and rare earths and you can do it’. They’ve got blockages.”

Mr Hockey warned Australia’s capacity to build nuclear submarines would be severely impacted if ASX-listed shipbuilding company Austal was taken over by South Korean giant Hanwha Ocean.

“When Austal goes, we’re gone,” he said.

Engineers Australia chief ­engineer Katherine Richards said a key aspect of delivering on AUKUS would be addressing the shortage of engineers.

“There aren’t enough engineers, so we are calling on 60,000 more engineering graduates over the next 10 years,” Ms Richards said. “But, more importantly, we need to get after the pipelines to enable people to be engineering-ready. That’s in our schools.

“And then we need to get after, if you like, removing the technical cataracts which so many Australians have, because engineering is ubiquitous in every single sector of Australian life.

“People don’t value it. So now’s the time to value engineering and value engineers. That’s what we’ve got to get after.”