Claire Clutterham (Sturt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm proud to rise today to speak about the significant role my home state of South Australia is playing in our nation's defence sector and in the AUKUS partnership. The decision to build SSN-AUKUS class nuclear-powered submarines at the Osborne shipyard in South Australia, where I proudly used to work, is a targeted and informed one. At Osborne we have the knowledge, the workforce and the burgeoning infrastructure that the SSN-AUKUS class submarines need. This is not just a defence acquisition; this is a generational project that will shape our national security and economy and build jobs for South Australians for decades to come. The program places South Australia at the very heart of one of the most important defence projects and strategic partnerships in our nation's history.

AUKUS is structured around two important pillars. Pillar I delivers a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines for Australia, while Pillar II serves as a platform for advanced technology cooperation in areas such as cyber, quantum, artificial intelligence, undersea systems, hypersonics and electronic warfare. Together these pillars provide an optimal pathway to transforming the Australian Defence Force into one that can operate at the cutting edge of technology and security in an increasingly complex geopolitical and security environment. AUKUS is at the core of the Albanese government's national security policy, designed to protect our nation, our supply chain and our interests and security, as well as to keep Australians safe. We need this investment to support the development of an Australian Defence Force with a much greater capacity to project so that we can deter adversaries, defend Australia and contribute to regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Why is this so important? It is because Australia is an island continent. Our security, our trade and our prosperity rely on safe and open sea routes, and submarines are the most effective way to guarantee that security. Nuclear-powered submarines, in particular, offer unmatched endurance, stealth and reach. They allow Australia not only to defend our approaches but also to deter threats before they emerge.

The Indo-Pacific is one of the world's most strategically contested regions, and in this environment Australia must remain a strong and credible partner with our allies, including the US. The SSN-AUKUS class of submarines will be amongst the most advanced platforms in the world. They will combine stealth, endurance, strike power and intelligence systems that no conventional submarine can match. With world-class sensors and surveillance capabilities, they will give us the ability to see further, act faster and respond most effectively to challenges in our region.

Crucially, AUKUS places South Australia at the centre of this national effort. At Osborne, the submarine construction yard and a new skills and training academy, the STAC, will be established. This phase alone will create up to 4,000 jobs designing, building and equipping the facilities we need. Once submarine production is underway, a further 4,000 to 5,500 shipyard jobs will be created in South Australia to design, build and sustain the fleet. These are high-value, highly skilled and secure jobs that will endure for decades. This means opportunities not just for today's workforce but for future generations. Young people growing up in South Australia will be able to see a pathway to meaningful well-paid work in our great state. Children not yet born will one day train at the academy, mastering advanced skills and helping to defend our nation. That is the scale of the opportunity before us.

Yes, this investment is significant. We recognise this. But the cost of being underprepared would be far higher. AUKUS is a generational decision. It strengthens our sovereignty, it deepens our alliances and it ensures Australia has the capability to deter others and defend itself. This is more than just a defence capability. AUKUS is an opportunity to build a future made in Australia by Australians. It is a once-in-a-generation transformational investment in our security, our industry and our people.

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