Australia Admits Longstanding Preference for Used Virginia-Class Subs, Reworks AUKUS Deal with US
Defence secretary Meghan Quinn told Senate estimates that Australia always preferred three second-hand nuclear-powered submarines. The Coalition questioned whether the original AUKUS plan was imposed on the Albanese government.
sbs.com.auAustralia’s preference was always to receive second-hand nuclear powered submarines under the AUKUS deal, defence officials have revealed. The defence secretary, Meghan Quinn, was grilled at Senate estimates on Tuesday night about the announcement that Australia would buy three used Virginia-class submarines from the US rather than a combination of new and old vessels.
Under questioning from the shadow defence minister, James Paterson, Quinn said it was a “joint idea” from Australia and the US to rework the deal.
A surprised Paterson asked why the Albanese government accepted the original deal if that wasn’t its preference. ” She added that three in-service submarines would be simpler and lower-cost through the training of staff, the sustainment arrangements, the maintenance requirements, and all of those considerations.
The Coalition questioned whether the original AUKUS arrangement was imposed on the Albanese government.
Australian defence minister Richard Marles, centre, walks alongside US and UK counterparts Pete Hegseth (L) and John Healey (R) at the US embassy in Singapore. Photograph: Edgar Su/Reuters.
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