Prime Minister Anthony Albanese toured the UK facility developing nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS deal during his second day in the country.
Key points:
- Mr Albanese is in the UK for the coronation of King Charles III
- The facility is developing the upcoming SSN-AUKUS submarine
- Australia’s submarine program is estimated to cost up to $368 billion over the next thirty years
Speaking from the facility in the port-town of Barrow-in-Furness north of Manchester, Mr Albanese praised the economic benefits of the deal, likening it to the post-war boom of the car industry in its potential creation of jobs and benefits for communities and other industries.
“We regard the development of an advanced, highly sophisticated manufacturing capability in Australia as having implications not just for our defence but for other industries as well, and I see this as being very similar to what the car industry provided for Australia in the post-war period,” Mr Albanese said during a press conference alongside the UK’s Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
“[The car] industry created jobs and security for communities during decades, but also had indirect spinoffs in other industries as well,” he said.
“Here in Barrow is a great example of people who live very close to these facilities who are in secure, well-paid jobs for their lifetime.
“And I want those opportunities to be held in Australia.”
The AUKUS submarine pact was announced in March this year at a media conference in San Diego featuring Mr Albanese, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden, marking Australia’s first steps into a nuclear submarine program.
The Australian government is investing in a brand new submarine known as the SSN-AUKUS, the design and development of which is taking place at the centre in Barrow-in-Furness.
The submarine is set to feature American combat systems and be operated by both the UK and Australia.
Once finalised, one submarine will be built every two years from the early 2040s through to the late 2050s.
The plan is for five SSN-AUKUS boats to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy by the middle of the 2050s, and eventually, the fleet would include eight Australian submarines built in Adelaide into the 2060s.
In the meantime, the federal government will buy at least three American-manufactured nuclear submarines and contribute “significant additional resources” to US shipyards.
Almost $123 billion has been set aside as ‘contingency’ for the AUKUS program, according to an analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office.
Mr Albanese said the contingency was justified for two reasons – the sheer scale of the project, and the benefit for communities.
“We were very transparent in the cost. We didn’t try and gild the lily about what the cost would be when we made the announcements which were $268 billion to $368 billion. Those are costs,” Mr Albanese said.
“Until you actually go and have a look first-hand, I think it is easy to underestimate the scale of what’s happened here. The other thing that is clear about coming here is the impact that this has on this local community.
“We believe that this is a substantial investment in jobs, investment in our economy and an investment in our capability.
“And it is certainly one that is worthwhile and is good that it enjoys bipartisan support in our national parliament. And that’s important for a project that will last for a long period of time.”
During his tour of the facility, Mr Albanese met with young trainees working at the facility.
First-year apprentice, 16-year-old Maddison, told the ABC seeing the interest of Australian politicians gives her a pride in her work.
“It’s made us feel like we’re doing something important and that it actually means something,” she said.
“It’s something to call home about … It’s not just a nine-to-five, you actually get something important with it as well,” agreed fellow apprentice, 17-year-old Jacob.
Mr Albanese praised the submarine program for giving opportunities to young and old alike.
“We’ve met young apprentices, but also some people being retrained. And one of the things that we need to do as our economy changes is not just to provide opportunities for young people, but provide people with opportunities and new careers as well,” he said.
Mr Albanese in in the UK for the coronation of King Charles this coming weekend, alongside Governor-General David Hurley, the state governors, Julie Bishop, Matildas forward Sam Kerr, Musician Nick Cave, comedian Adam Hills and youth advocate Yasmin Poole among others.
Before the event on the weekend, Mr Albanese will also meet with Mr Sunak to discuss AUKUS and the free-trade agreement between the two nations.