Job concerns amid Japanese submarine reports
Job concerns amid Japanese submarine reports
There are concerns for thousands of South Australian manufacturing and defence jobs after reports the Federal Government is considering buying submarines from Japan.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott guaranteed local submarine construction ahead of the last federal election, including 12 new submarines at Osborne, where ASC employs 2500 people.
But six months on, other options are cropping up as Australia strengthens ties with Japan.
There are reports cheaper off-the-shelf Japanese models are being looked at.
“I hope to speak to Senator Johnson to get some clarification about exactly what the commonwealth government is thinking,” Defence Industries Minister Jack Snelling said.
They would replace the Collins-class submarines.
The manufacturing workers’ union said it would be a blow the local workforce could not handle.
“There’s generations of highly skilled workforce and we’ll just lose all those skills,” Colin Fenney from the union said.
“It’s very disappointing going on the back of what going on in South Australia with manufacturing.”
An expert report has given local workers the vote of confidence, labelling the current maintenance being done on the Collins class as remarkable and astonishing.
Some industry insiders argue the off-the-shelf models would not fit the Australian Defence needs and that such a move would pose serious national security risks.
“You’re relying on another country to make sure you have the best technology and that they afford you the priority in their maintenance cycle to get your vessels through at the right time,” Chris Burns form the Defence Training Centre said.
Defence SA chief executive officer Andrew Fletcher said: “It must be more effective for us to build and maintain in Australia.”
The Defence Minister said while cooperation with Japan is important to learn more about its technologies, a decision has not been made.
That will not come until the defence white paper is released next year.
