Before the election, Senator Johnston stood outside ship builder ASC in Adelaide and promised Australias Future Submarine Project would be built and designed in Australia.
We will deliver those submarines from right here at ASC in South Australia. The Coalition today is committed to building 12 new submarines here in Adelaide."Senator Johnston, Press Conference, 8 May 2013
It is time that Australia had a Defence Minister who stands up for our strategically vital ship building industry, not one who is prepared to see thousands of Australian jobs go overseas.
The secret visit of Japanese submarine experts to Adelaide follows recent revelations that the Coalition has had discussions with the Japanese Government about buying Japanese submarines.
This is despite the head of the Future Submarine Project told the Senate in 2011 that Japanese submarines do not meet Australias strategic needs.
Purchasing Japanese submarines would not only be a broken promise, they would also not meet Australias unique requirements for range, endurance and capability.
The Minister has a clear choice: he can rule out buying Japanese submarines or he can reduce the capability available to the ADF.
The people of South Australia deserve better than a Government that abandons their jobs in the Defence and automotive industries and instead sends highly skilled work overseas.
