Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a substantial $3.9 billion investment, a 'down payment', towards the construction of a $30 billion Adelaide submarine shipyard. This project, known as AUKUS, involves building at least eight nuclear-powered submarines in collaboration with the US and the UK. The shipyard, located in Osborne, will be a significant economic boost for South Australia, with an estimated 4,000 workers designing and building the yard, and 5,500 supporting production at its peak. The submarines are part of a larger $368 billion AUKUS pact, replacing a previous deal to build French-designed submarines in Adelaide.
The construction process has already commenced with an $5 billion fabrication area and a $2 billion enabling works project. The next stage, an outfitting area, is estimated to cost $8 billion, while a consolidation, testing, launching, and commissioning area will require over $15 billion. The project's timeline is ambitious, with the shipyard set to be completed by 2040. The first nuclear-powered submarines will be delivered to Australia in the early 2030s, with five of the eight SSN-AUKUS submarines arriving by the mid-2050s and the final three in the 2060s.
The project's scale is immense, with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas describing it as 'structurally significant' and 'dwarfs' previous investments in the state. However, Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn emphasizes the importance of local businesses being at the heart of the manufacturing process to ensure long-term economic benefits for South Australia. The project promises to create thousands of well-paid, secure jobs and contribute significantly to the national interest for decades to come.
