Politics live: Australia always preferred secondhand Aukus submarines, defence secretary says
Key points
- 21.37 BST Australia always preferred used submarines, defence secretary claims Dan Jervis-Bardy Australia’s preference was always to receive secondhand nuclear powered submarines under the Aukus deal, defence officials have revealed, prompting the Coalition to question if the original arrangement was “imposed” on the Albanese government.
- 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.
- Pressed on which country proposed the alternative plan first, Quinn said double quotation mark Australia’s position is that we would have always …
- had a preference for three in-service (submarines).
Quick Summary
21.37 BST Australia always preferred used submarines, defence secretary claims Dan Jervis-Bardy Australia’s preference was always to receive secondhand nuclear powered submarines under the Aukus
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Key Takeaways
- 21.37 BST Australia always preferred used submarines, defence secretary claims Dan Jervis-Bardy Australia’s preference was always to receive secondhand nuclear powered submarines under the Aukus deal, defence officials have revealed, prompting the Coalition to question if the original arrangement was “imposed” on the Albanese government.
- 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.
- Pressed on which country proposed the alternative plan first, Quinn said double quotation mark Australia’s position is that we would have always … had a preference for three in-service (submarines).
- A surprised Paterson asked why the Albanese government accepted the original deal if that wasn’t its preference.
📌 Source: The Guardian
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