Former Australian ambassador to the US and federal treasurer Joe Hockey said the nation’s new nuclear-powered submarine fleet would be capable of giving any potential adversary “a bloody nose”.
He was speaking on 2GB with Ben Fordham today after after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met in San Diego where they announced details of the submarines’ purchase under the AUKUS deal.
“This gives us significant defensive firepower,” Hockey said.
”If you want to mess with us you’re going to get a bloody nose.
“There is no more powerful alliance in the world than the US, UK and Australia.”
Australia will spend up to $368 billion by 2055 to build a new fleet of eight nuclear-propelled submarines in Adelaide to enter service in the 2040s under the costliest defence project in the nation’s history.
Hockey – a former Coalition cabinet minister – also stressed the new submarine fleet would help check the growing power of China in the Indo Pacific region and Australia “will not be bullied”.
He pointed to Chinese trade sanctions on Australian exports over the past two years.
“We are a target. They’ve (China) spent the last few years bullying us.
Bishop backs ‘revolutionary’ defence upgrade
Former foreign minister Julie Bishop hailed the AUKUS agreement a “revolutionary step-up” in Australia’s defence capability.
She was speaking on Today this morning
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Bishop said acquiring the nuclear submarines – with their longer range and ability to remain submerged for far longer than Australia’s current fleet of conventional submarines – was vital for the nation’s national security.
“It also means that Australia gets access to advanced technologies from the United States and the United Kingdom, in communications and sonar,” she said.
But Bishop also stressed the AUKUS deal shouldn’t derail the Albanese government’s push to stabilise relations with China.
“China, particularly, believes it’s part of a US-led effort to contain China’s economic and military growth, and I don’t believe that China will be dissuaded from that view.
“However, Penny Wong, our Foreign Minister, and our other diplomats around the world must continue this diplomatic outreach.”
‘Massive opportunity’ for state
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the decision to build the new SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide was a “massive opportunity” for the state.
“I mean we talk about the numbers and of course they’re extraordinary – thousands of jobs, in fact, 4000 jobs just to build the submarine construction yards let alone the 5500 jobs, direct jobs, just to build the nuclear vessels.”
But former senator and Australian submariner warned the federal government was putting “all it’s eggs in one basket” by opting for the AUKUS nuclear vessels.
“One of my great concerns is that … we’re spending a quarter of a trillion dollars on one single capability. I actually don’t think that’s very sensible.
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“There’s a huge cost associated with this particular program. There’s so much the ADF needs. It worries me that we’re putting all our eggs into one basket.”
