Labor defence spokesman Richard Marles has accused the Morrison government of mismanaging the $90 billion future submarine program, claiming its mismanagement has compromised Australia’s national security. In particular, Marles accuses the government of being “negligently premature” by choosing France’s Naval Group ahead of rivals before designs for the submarines had even been finalised:
Mr Marles says the submarine acquisition should be on the radar of every Australian because it is the single most expensive item purchased since Federation, and Australia’s national security “desperately requires the evolution of its long-range submarine capability”…
“Our national security has been profoundly compromised. Australia now has a major problem in relation to the single most important military platform this country possesses,” Mr Marles will say.
