The 2020 Defence Strategic Update highlighted a rapidly deteriorating
strategic environment in our near region. The Indo Pacific is now at the epicentre of
strategic competition, and the risks of miscalculation are increasing
The Government remains committed to protecting Australia and its national interests,
and that of our partner nations, in a rapidly changing global environment.
In the Indo-Pacific, military modernisation is occurring at an unprecedented rate.
Capabilities are rapidly advancing and their reach expanding.
The technological edge enjoyed by Australia and our partners is narrowing.
There is no doubt that we are operating in complex, and uncertain times.
It is important, now more than ever, that Our Navy is prepared and able to deter and
respond to threats in our region. To do this, we must invest
in the right military technologies. These capabilities will enable us
to continue to defend Australia and its national interests.
Today, on the 16th of September, the Prime Minister announced an Enhanced Trilateral Security
Partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States – to be known as AUKUS.
This partnership is based on a shared vision for a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,
building on our already-rich relationships. AUKUS will allow Defence to enhance our joint
capabilities and interoperability, with an initial focus on cyber capabilities,
artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and additional undersea capabilities.
The first major initiative under AUKUS is the acquisition of a
nuclear-powered submarine capability for our Navy. This is the single most consequential capability
decision - certainly in my lifetime - and it will shape the direction of our Navy for ever more.
It heralds a new era for our Navy and will no doubt change the shape of our Nation.
I welcome this announcement and the decision by Government
to ensure that Our People have the capabilities that we need to fight, and win, at sea.
The pace of change means that in the future, a conventional submarine, no matter how advanced,
will be unable to undertake the full range of required activities across the region.
Nuclear-powered submarines have superior characteristics
of stealth, speed, manoeuvrability,
survivability, and almost limitless endurance, when compared to conventional submarines.
They can deploy unmanned underwater vehicles
and can also carry more advanced and a greater number of weapons.
These abilities allow nuclear-powered submarines to operate in contested areas
with a lower risk of detection and deter actions against Australia’s interests.
Most importantly to me, this approach will give Our People the very best available capability
to fight and win at sea. Over the next 18 months,
we will work with our UK and US counterparts to determine the optimal pathway to achieve this
capability, and address elements such as nuclear stewardship, regulation,
training and our workforce. This work will be primarily undertaken
by a dedicated task force, led by Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead, with various levels of support
from across Defence and the whole of Government. In parallel, Our Navy will work with the Task
Force and other stakeholders to develop a Submarine Capability Transition Plan,
to work through the complex changes that will be required to successfully deliver this
capability into service, while continuing to sustain the Collins class submarines.
In order to focus the resources where they are most needed, the Prime Minister
has also announced that our Government is not proceeding with the Attack Class submarine program.
While this is a necessary step, there will be many of our People
working on the Attack class program that will be affected by this news.
To that end, I want to take time to acknowledge those working in the Attack Class Program,
and their extraordinary efforts, over a long period of time. Thank you.
And now more than ever, your expertise is essential to our future success.
For those of you thinking, ‘what does this mean for me?’
It is important to note that the Navy, and Defence more broadly, has an important job to do,
today, ensuring forces are ready now to defend Australia and our National interests,
while concurrently delivering and transitioning to future capabilities.
Apart from contributing to Government directed operations and activities,
over the coming decades, the National Naval Shipbuilding Program will see the delivery of
9 Hunter class frigates 10 Arafura class offshore patrol vessels
6 evolved Cape class patrol boats up to 8 new mine countermeasure and
military survey vessels an ice-rated replacement
for our Ocean Protector, and a new large forward support vessel.
The Government has also announced an investment in the enhancement of our long-range strike
capability, with our Hobart class destroyers equipped with Tomahawk Cruise Missiles
These capabilities, coupled with our planned life-of-type extension of our Collins Class
submarines—which remains one of the most capable conventional submarines in the world—will
enhance our ability to deter and respond to potential security challenges
during the transition to a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
This is a critically important time for Our Navy, and we need all hands on deck.
Some of you will be intimately involved in the development and eventual operation of this
capability - our nuclear-powered submarine fleet. Many though, are yet to even enlist in Our Navy.
The next generation will bring with them a new generation of thinking, skill and mastery,
contributing to ideas and outcomes never before seen in Our Navy’s history.
Together, we will forge a new legacy.
To those currently serving, I want to thank you all for your service, your efforts
and your dedication. To our Future Navy, I want to thank you for all that you will do.
There is hard work ahead, and the consultation period over the next 18 months will help us
chart a course. I am confident that there is nothing we cannot achieve, together.
We will build upon our highly capable force – a thinking, fighting and Australian Navy, that will
be ready to meet whatever challenges may come. Now and into the future.