AIDN
AIDN
  • Membership
    • Member Benefits & Registration
  • News & Events
    • Newsroom
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Our Board Members
    • Our Team
    • Our Presidents
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Member Area
  • Locations:
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales
  • Queensland
  • Western Australia
  • Northern Territory
  • South Australia
  • Victoria
  • Tasmania

Thistlethwaite calls time-out on submarine base speculation

Newsroom

April 6, 2023


Photo: Defence Connect

Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite has called a halt to speculation that Port Kembla will be the government’s preferred choice of nuclear submarine base on the east coast of Australia.

 

Former prime minister Scott Morrison had previously identified Port Kembla, Brisbane, and Newcastle as potential contenders for an AUKUS east coast base.

 

The Illawarra Innovative Industry Network, representing 80 industry groups in Illawarra, is one of the local players pushing for that base to be housed at Port Kembla.

Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said despite significant positive and negative guesswork, no decision had been made on an east coast base location by the former or current government.

 

“The former government articulated the need for an additional Navy base on the east coast,” he said.

“Weeks before the commencement of the caretaker period before the last election, former prime minister Morrison announced ‘a new base will be built’ at an estimated cost of $10 billion. The former government did not choose a location for this ‘new base’.

 

“Following our decision to acquire conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, there has been much speculation about where this ‘new base’ announced by the former government could be located.

 

“I understand this has been the cause for both discussion, positive and negative, and uncertainty in the Illawarra community.

“Let me be clear, a decision has not been made (and) while the former government announced the need for an east coast base, the Albanese government will take the time required to consider all feasible options.

 

“Our immediate focus for naval shore infrastructure is the work that needs to be done at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia to build the necessary operational capabilities and skills to be ‘sovereign ready’ so we can safely and securely own, operate, maintain, and regulate a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

 

“We take very seriously the responsibility of ensuring that Australia safely and securely operates, maintains, and stewards its conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, so we are focused on making sure we get this right.”

 

A NSW Ports spokesperson said concepts for an offshore wind port facility had recently been unveiled for Port Kembla’s outer harbour, however, there is currently no information about the area housing a submarine base.

 

“Port Kembla is a key economic driver for NSW; importing vehicles, farm equipment and other machinery, renewable energy components and cement, while connecting farmers and miners to global markets and supporting the BlueScope steelworks,” the spokesperson said last month.

 

“NSW Ports has not been provided with any information regarding the location and nature of a potential Port Kembla naval base.

 

“We are confident that the federal government understands the importance of our ports in supporting the state’s economic needs and the requirement to manage future trade growth in line with a growing population.

 

“We encourage any Port Kembla defence proposal to recognise this too, so as not to adversely impact commercial port operations or constrain port growth. This is essential to enable Port Kembla to serve the future trade needs of our state; cost-effectively and efficiently.”

 

The first AUKUS submarine rolls off the United Kingdom production line in the late 2030s for the Royal Navy, with the first Australian submarine to be delivered in the early 2040s.

 

Wollongong Against War and Nukes member and Port Kembla resident Alexander Brown said instead of spending $368 billion on nuclear submarines, the government should spend those funds on building a renewable energy industry.

 

“Acquiring nuclear submarines is taking a step towards war,” Alexander said.

 

“These submarines are offensive weapons, not defensive, and they signal an intent to act in a hostile manner beyond the waters surrounding Australia. We totally reject this plan and will fight it every step of the way.”

Read More

Recent Posts

  • ADF Deters Illegal Fishing in the Pacific through Operation Solania

    ADF Deters Illegal Fishing in the Pacific through Operation Solania

    June 1, 2023
  • Defence industry professionals list most attractive primes for employment

    Defence industry professionals list most attractive primes for employment

    June 1, 2023
  • CYBERCX ANNOUNCES AIDN MOU

    CYBERCX ANNOUNCES AIDN MOU

    May 28, 2023
  • Defence Strategic Review External Advisory Panel Appointed

    Defence Strategic Review External Advisory Panel Appointed

    May 28, 2023
  • Visit to the Republic of Korea for the Korea-Pacific Islands Summit

    Visit to the Republic of Korea for the Korea-Pacific Islands Summit

    May 28, 2023
  • International Day of UN Peacekeepers – 75 Years of UN Peacekeeping

    International Day of UN Peacekeepers – 75 Years of UN Peacekeeping

    May 28, 2023
  • Defence Strategic Review External Advisory Panel Appointed

    Defence Strategic Review External Advisory Panel Appointed

    May 27, 2023
  • AUKUS PARTNERS DEMONSTRATE ADVANCED CAPABILITIES AI TRIAL

    AUKUS PARTNERS DEMONSTRATE ADVANCED CAPABILITIES AI TRIAL

    May 26, 2023
  • AUSTENDER NOTICE – NAVY’S SURFACE COMBATANTFLEET CAPABILITY – INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS TEAM INDUSTRYBRIEFING

    AUSTENDER NOTICE – NAVY’S SURFACE COMBATANTFLEET CAPABILITY – INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS TEAM INDUSTRYBRIEFING

    May 26, 2023
  • Diesel Engine Contract Ensures Capability is Always Ready to Deploy

    Diesel Engine Contract Ensures Capability is Always Ready to Deploy

    May 24, 2023


Australian Industry & Defence Network.

Subscribe → Subscribe →

Menu

  • Home
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Gallery
  • Industries

Account

  • Login
  • Register

Legal

  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy

Our Social Pages

  • Share on Linkedin Linkedin
  • Instagram
AIDN

Member Services: info@aidn.org.au

Address: PO Box 5541, Kingston, ACT 2604

2023 © Australian Industry & Defence Network (AIDN)