The decision by the former Morrison Government to cancel construction of 12 French Attack-class submarines and announce the acquisition of nuclear submarines through the AUKUS alliance has left Australia vulnerable to a submarine capability gap.
This report looks at the enduring workforce and industry development benefit of an Australian marine engineering build.
Australia needs to build up to 6 new Collins submarines to bridge the capability gap and ensure we have an established, skilled workforce to underpin our sovereign capability in naval shipbuilding.
Prepared by the Australian Shipbuilding Federation of Unions, comprised of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), Australian Workers Union (AWU), Electrical Trades Union (ETU), and Professionals Australia (PA).