Federal Labor has today welcomed the Abbott Governments back down on submarines, with its decision to rule out buying Australias Future Submarines off-the-shelf from another country.
In a speech to the Submarine Institute of Australias Biennial Conference, the Defence Minister said:

Australias next submarine will have longer range and endurance than any diesel/electric submarine currently available off the shelf. Senator David Johnston, 12 November 2014

This follows months of speculation that the Government was set to purchase the current Japanese Soryu-class submarine for our new fleet.
Expert after expert have criticised this option, saying an off-the-shelf Soryu submarine does not have the capabilities that Australia needs.^[i]
This decision is something that Labor has been calling for since the option of purchasing the current Soryu submarine was first raised as a possibility, Shadow Minister for Defence Stephen Conroy said.
In fact, an off-the-shelf option for our future submarines was ruled out by Labor in government back in 2013.
It is now time for the Abbott Government to keep its pre-election promise and build Australias new submarines in Adelaide.
Expert evidence to the Senate has confirmed that Australian shipyards can build the submarines that the Navy needs, while avoiding a capability gap, and at a price that is competitive for the taxpayer, including through life costs.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator for South Australia Penny Wong said: This is a significant win for South Australia, but the fight is not over.
We will continue our campaign until the Government keeps its promise to build 12 new submarines in Adelaide.
The Defence industry is vital for South Australian jobs and our economy.

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