Defence boss defends AUKUS submarine changes as James Paterson questions Australia’s new pathway
Australia’s new defence secretary has defended changes to the AUKUS submarine plan after facing tough questions over whether the revised deal was always the preferred option.
Australia’s new defence secretary has claimed buying only second-hand submarines from the United States was always the preference for AUKUS, before later clarifying to a Senate committee that the project could have “two constrained optimal pathways”.
During her first public appearance since taking over the high-powered role, Meghan Quinn was grilled by senators about recently announced changes to the $368 billion project to acquire a nuclear-powered fleet to replace the ageing Collins-class boats.
Over the weekend, the defence minister confirmed Australia would now receive three “in service” Virginia-class submarines from the US, instead of one new and two second-hand boats, arguing the move would improve simplicity and be significantly cheaper.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Under questioning from shadow defence minister James Paterson at a Senate Estimates hearing on Tuesday night, the newly appointed defence boss initially gave evidence that the recently adjusted approach to AUKUS had always been Australia’s preferred plan.
The Secretary was asked which country had made the decision that only “in service” boats would now be purchased from the United States, instead of Australia receiving one new submarine and two “in-service” boats.
“Australia’s position is that we would always have a preference for three in-service (submarines),” Ms Quinn responded.
Senator Paterson then sought further clarification as to why the government’s initial stated optimal AUKUS pathway in 2023 was for two in-service submarines and one new boat from the US.
“Because it’s a joint discussion with the United States,” she replied.
Ms Quinn was further pressed on whether the United States had originally “imposed a new submarine on us and said: you must take a new submarine even in you want three in-service.”
“The joint decision at that time was that there would be two in-service and one new, there were discussions at that time around the different options and at that time the joint discussion was to have two in-service and one new,” Ms Quinn answered.
“There are many reasons why three in-service would be simpler, lower cost, through the training of staff, the sustainment arrangements, the maintenance requirements and all of those considerations,” she explained to the committee.
Under further questioning from Greens Senator David Shoebridge, the Defence Secretary offered a new justification for the revised AUKUS deal, claiming that the “constrained optimisation” approach was key to policy-making.
“There’s no entirely free optimal path. Everything is always a constrained optimisation based on the evidence of the time, based on the cost-benefit analysis and all the other risks which are more judgement-based.”
Senator Shoebridge then injected, telling the Secretary; “you can’t have two optimal pathways!”
Ms Quinn responded by insisting that “you can absolutely have two constrained optimal pathways. Constrained optimisation is absolutely core to policy making”.
The bizarre exchange in Senate Estimates came just hours after outspoken Labor MP Ed Husic challenged the Prime Minister to allow caucus members to have a fresh vote on AUKUS following the changes to the optimal pathway unveiled over the weekend.
On Tuesday evening after returning to Australia, defence minister Richard Marles played down the significance of the recently unveiled changes to the acquisition of Viriginia-class submarines from the US.
“Yes, there is a change on the 3rd sub. But the bulk of AUKUS is about building our own nuclear subs in Adelaide. It’s not a huge change as the fundamentals are still in place,” he told a gathering of defence industry figures in Canberra.
“Everyone needs to take a deep breath. The ALP took AUKUS to the last national conference where it was debated extensively. And we chose to support it as a party after following standard ALP process”.
“All 3 nations are struggling with their industrial bases, it is a colossal task. But we can do it. And we need to stick with it. We’re already on Plan D.”In April, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Meghan Quinn, who was the Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, would take over from Greg Moriarty as the new head of the Defence Department.
