Dutton denies releasing top-secret information regarding nuclear submarines
Peter Dutton has denied releasing top-secret information when he claimed the US was likely to sell Australia two nuclear-powered submarines within eight years.
Peter Dutton has denied releasing top-secret information when he claimed the US was likely to sell Australia two nuclear-powered submarines within eight years, describing the plan as a “commonsense conclusion” based on publicly available facts.
The Opposition Leader and former defence minister said it was his “professional judgment” that the US would agree to the plan, which he revealed in The Australian earlier this month.
The Australian understands Defence’s nuclear submarine taskforce had been examining the option and it had been discussed with US officials before the election.
Mr Dutton refused to confirm whether such talks had taken place, but said the US was an “incredibly willing partner” in Australia’s nuclear submarine program.
“None of that is classified. Frankly, I think it's a commonsense conclusion,” Mr Dutton told the ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.
“I'm not going into conversations, but I formed the judgment that we could acquire two submarines quickly, and I think it’s necessary that we do so.
“(The US) are very keen to see the reality in the Indo-Pacific addressed. So I think that they would pull out every stop to support Australia acquiring the capability as quickly as possible.”
He said he raised the plan because he believed the Albanese government was “trying to crab walk away from the AUKUS deal” in favour of a diesel-electric “Son of Collins” boat.
However, Defence Minister Richard Marles told The Australian in a recent interview that the promised nuclear-powered submarines were “fundamental” to the nation’s security, and vowed to provide the necessary funding to deliver them.
He said the Opposition Leader’s “loose” comments had undermined the AUKUS agreement and Australia’s national security.
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